The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-02-07
TEACHERS GREATLY
UNDERPA|D: SMITH

Data assembled by Deputy Super
intendent Smith, in response to a
QUESTIONABLE from the state depart
ment of education, discloses some in
teresting facts and figures regard
ing teachers salaries in comparison
to the cost of living.
1t has been estimated by federal
official that the cost of food has in
creased. since 1914, seventy-eight per
cent, which, in the opinion of many
will be called a most conservative
estimate. The cost of shoes has prob
ably advanced during the same per-
iod $50 per cent and the cost of cloth
ing at least 125 per cent Altogether
it is probably safe to say that the
cost of living has increased one hun
dred, or more, per cent in five years
Guess how much teachers wages in
this supervision district comprising
Humboldt, Churchill and Pershing
counties) have increased in five years
the figures based upon official direc-
tories? twenty-five per cent, or to
be more accurate PATS per cent.
The highest salary paid to teacher
in a one-room school in this supervi-
sion district is at Rochester, $3.50,
where board and room costs the
teacher $50. The lowest is in the
central district, at Willow Point,
where the salary is sS5 and board
and room s2S
The approximate average salary
in one room rural schools Ga rural
school is classified as any school hav-
ing not more than two teachers) in
1888 was $94.95 per month, the av-
erage length of term 8.19 months
therefore the average annual salary
in this class of schools was $767.64
In the year 1919-20 the monthly sal
ary had increased in this class of
schools to $102.64. the average length
of term to S.5, therefore the annual
salary to sS7244
The per cent of increase in the
salaries of rural teachers this year
over last is estimated at 500 per cent:
the increase in the same period for
teachers in villages and cities 666I
per cent. The increase in 1888 over
1918 was much smaller. In five
years the increase for teachers in
general in these three counties was
about twenty-five per cent
The average salary of village and
city teachers Gncluding high school
teachers and principals of schools)
was in 1888, $121.27; this year
$12935.
1t has been found that of the thirty
three teachers engaged in Churchill
county only sixteen, or about fifty per
cent, returned to the same district;
in Humboldt county. of forty teachers
only fourteen, or thirty-four per cent
returned to the same district and in
Pershing county twenty-eighth, OF
fifty per cent returned. 1t is gener-
advantage to district or a school
to have the same teacher more than
one year, if ne or she is competent |
Some declined for their own reasons |
to return. The slight increase in sal |
aries probably has much to do with |
explaining why such large number
did not return to the same district
Considering the fact that the board |
and room expense teacher pays out
is only small part of her yearly |
expense, and the further fact that not
a few teachers attend summer school
every year or two to improve in their
work, it is not to be wondered at that
all over the United States there has
been, and is yet. marked shortage
of teachers.
The Silver State for a month-40c.