The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-23
Teachers Salaries.
Member of National Security
Leagues Committee on Public
Schools.
BY F.. j. IISMAN,

! About two persons out Oh every
| eleven are of school age.
About one person out OF every two
hundred is school teacher. There
| are about $4,000 school teachers In
Greater New York and probably 50o,-
900 altogether in the United States.
Their salaries In New York city range
from 200 upwards. though nost OF
/ the teachers do not get much over
$1,000.
1t formerly cost In New York about
$50 per annum for the eduction or
each child. During 1920 this will
run up to Sos. The total cost OF the
schools in Greater New York Ia $52,-
100000 for 10000 scholars, many of
which are on part time for lack of
seating capacity and for lack of teach
ers. Lately there have been some
days when nearly 5000 classes, in
GLIDING about 100 900 scholars. had 10
be sent home because there were no
teachers available. The worst of this
| situation, however. is still to come,
BECAUSE the number OF teachers who
will graduate within the next Ave
years is going to be barely one-third
OF what ii has been heretofore. be-
cause the teaching profession is not
attracting rev members.
IGNORANCE OUR FOE"
There was "A mass meeting of
teachers at Carnegie Hall one day last
week, where ExSecretary OF the
Treasury McAdoo put the case of the
teachers most sucoinctly. He stated
the foe of democracy Is ignorance,
and the foe of ignorance is the pub
lie schools we cannot have schools
without teachers, we cannot have
teachers without reasonable salaries
10 enable them to ably discharge their
duttas, This means taxes; and the
politicians are as bold as lions in all
matters but one, and that is taxes"
The proposed increase in salaries
for the teachers In New York city
amounts to about $4,000. 600. and
our city authorities tell us that the
city cannot afford to spend this sum.
This is. Of course, absurd.
S25 zoo. 900 FOR OFFICE BOYS
Certainly the citizens of New York
do not want the school system to de-
teriorate further. There are proba bly,
upwards of 100, 600 stenographers in
New York city. The annual increase
in their sa aries has probably aver
aged $500 t year. aggregatfng $50
000,o6o. Probably there is a similar
number of ONCE boys in New York
eity. and the annual increase in their
salaries. which has not been less than
s. each week, aggregated s25 1000, 900
per ar mum. Surely the citizens of
New York can afford a proper in
crease In the salaries OF their teach
ors
Il is now proposed that the state
shall pay the increased cost. Natur-
ally teachers upstate want. and are
also entitled to-, an Increase in sal
al les The total increase for the state
therefore will amount to about $25,-
000. 600. AS New York city pays
two thirds of the state taxes. the tax
LAYERS of the city will have to pay
!, the increased rate to the state. the
same as though they were paying IL
direct to the city. Presumably this
increase will be levied either in the
form of a direct state tax or 1t will
, be aishursed out OF the state income
tax. and thus our city authorities will
not have to increase the local tax
rate, tut New York city win pay the
exrens@ anyway. 1t is just a ques,
ton between Tweedleduna and Twee.
,dtedee.
BAD BUILDINGS.
! The lack of teachers. however. is
not the only thing which Is the mat
! ter with the school system. Some OF
, the schcol buildings have deteriorated
10 such an extent that they are hard
Is safe. II some OF these schoo
buildings were factories the fire and
health departments would not allow
them TO be used. The amount al
lowed annually for the upkeep OF
these buildings is barely a per cent
, while the customary amount fol
, maintenance and deterioration OF pri-
, vate buildings is not less than per
d, / 49,, re
: schools has not been constructed, and
even If teachers were available there
would still have to be upwards OF
! 10000 pupils on part time.
New York city many years ago lee
in its public school system in conduct
: curriculum, etc, but 1t has dropped
sadly behind. The world has moved
: but the educational system has not
Considerably less than 20 per cent Of
all public school children go to high
school. and the curriculum is largely
based on preparation for high school
High schools base their curriculum:
on college examination. whereas les
than s per cent OF the scholars go L
college. A constructive. broad pro
. gram for the schools is essential IL
the worlds competition. that coun
try will lead which has the mos
, tenn. t
, The amount which should be al
, lowed annually for the education o
each child should be much neare
500 than $s5.
PEOPLE WILLING TO PAY"
While there is much talk abou
r characterization, the schools in tn
, past have been our most successful
: | melting pot. and while many nev
3 theories are being propounded, tn
r most important element in our ma
tional life Is now being allowed 4
ceteriorate, although the peopl
would be perfectly willing to pay tn
9 cost.
: The whole structure OF represcn
: tation with universal suffrage is nee
= essarily based on the intelligence q
:. the voters, and IL their education
~ neglected the outlook for the futur