The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-11-18
MCKEE.

READS PAPER ON
TEACHER SHORTAGE
The following paper on 'The Teach
er Shortage-Its Cause and Cohse-
auence" was read by Miss Margaret
Mccarthy, Superintendent Of the
Training School. before the members
Of the Higher Professional Education
I Department of the N. D. E. A. at its
meeting in Grand Forks.
This country of ours is now passing
through q time of stress scarcely
equaled by any other period in our
history. Seldom if lever before has
there been so great a need for we'll in
formed men and women-sane, alert,
and we'll balanced-able to make
sound judgments and fair in the i'm
preston and execution of them. In
democracy education always is OF
supreme importance. In these days OF
class antagonism, Of unrest and read
iustment, the emphasis Of this fact IS
impressed anew upon every thought
full person. Every gain that we as
nation have made seems endangered
Government Of the people and for the
people must be by a people instructed,
Intelligent and trained in government
Of self II it is not to perish from the
earth. Our electorate must be a body
& of men and women who shall meet the
problems of the hour with well d.
reeted courage, who shall make and
keen our national existence safe.
We turn to the schools as the means
Of solving our problem and what do
we find. At time when we should
over reach our greatest endeavor Of
the mast. when mature men and wom-
en- are needed to cope with the situa-
ton we find the many problems be-
ing faced by the immature, unexper-
fenced. and often absolutely incom-
petent. Not only this but for the first
time in our history we are faced with
the difficulty Of having any kind OF
school at all.
"a January, 1920, the Commissioner
Of Education reported 1900 schools
closed and 10000 supplied with teach
err whose qualifications were below
the standard Of the states in which,
theE were teaching. Three hundred
thousand out Of the $50 900 schoo!
teachers Of the country were reported
as below any reasonable minimum
standard Of qualification. This fall an
inyestigation by the National Educa-
ton Association indicates but little
improyement-more positions are NIL
ed but the number below standard is
increased.
Not only is an assured supply lack
ing but figures go to show that the
: suDDly is diminishing. From 1916 to
1925 we have decrease Of 30: pei
cent in graduates Of 70 normal schools
Of the country investigated, and ~
per cent decrease i'm the attendance
during the three years from 1916 to
1919. Investigations also indicate
that fewer and fewer of the talented
are coming from high schools INTO
teaching and whereas in 1890 men
made up 81 per cent Of the teaching
posulation in 1910 this number had
fallen off to % per cent and in 1918
sta farther to II per cent.
While the unusual economic and
Industrial conditions through, which
we are passing has produced the eli
nsx the causes for this condition
have been working for a longer period
( Of time and are therefor all the more
siaister.
Tie largest percentage Of the teach
ing population is made up Of women
The last twenty years has been con-
stantiy widening field for the indie
nenlent woman worker. Formerly
the two chief occupations open to nef
81 which she could maintain her soclal
] standing were those Of home making
~ school teaching. At the present
time there are few positions not open
to her and her right is not questioned:
Net only that but the business w world
has learned from experience that men
and women possessed Of a high degree
Of skill in teaching are very valuable
in HE management Of people and they
are willing to pay for their services
A result many Of the most agrees
si1e and talented have gradually LEFT
for occupations in which they can
make more money than IN teaching. y
we are going to compete with this sit
uatnoin, salaries must be sufficient to
attract those possessed OF native abll-
itv and strength Of character.
Salaries have always been low but
with the increasing cost of living even
the most loyal to the profession nave
found it necessary to forsake it.
Young people have not been prepar-
ing to enter it since the return from
HE investment required for prepara-
ton is not proportional. to that !, ~
other professions. No one can doubt
their wisdom when we realize that
the medium salary paid to all elemen,
tary and high school teachers in 393
cities Of the United States in the year
1913 10 is 40 per cent below that paid
the skilled and unskilled laborers and
employers in factories and shops
where the greater number employed
are women and girls" People have
come to look with distain upon 2 pro-
fassidl wlich offers such meager
emsluments.
( We are led to inquire why this con.