The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-05-17

CONFERENCE hat Is unique in American history is being held.
re educational crisis ! crisis IN which the breakdown Of our
national educational system IS threatened. This threat is perhaps
today. for our greatest need as q nation now is for sound, thorough
semss. .. q 81 s sSs psSp5'; wo a%s ss''S S;ssa m,s1s"p pes o~ nj n% nesI -y SeSr
but twenty years from that year.
incompetent or poorly equipped teachers because there is a shortage
Of 10000 teachers in me public schools Of the country because
hundreds o. teachers are leaving the schools every week for other
lines q work n which sdsqaase pay may be had for competent
efizens' conference on education, to consider ways and means for
meeting the threatened shoftage Of tearhers next year,
United states Normal schools this month win be only fifty per cent
q the ayeEage in 1914 1915 and 1916 The same authority states
that a study Of the normal and teacher training schools Of the nation
show eee. The class Of Young men and women taking he work :
hnt thr nation : most honorable ana most necessary profession no
ppgsF amrasts men and women Of first ability.
The 10000 public school teachers Of The United states last year
averaged annual salaries Of $6s064. or about the same average as Of
1914 All classes Of labor in the United States last year averaged
about $500 or nearly three times tile average salary Of the school
i IS not surprising that in the face of such a comparison intel
b thousands, and iIrning 10 other lines Of work in which greater
We need have no sympathy for the tearhcrs They are amply
abe 70 take care Of issnselves They are proving it daily by seeking
dren who are faced with interrupted or incompetent instruction and
psoriy conducted schools. Orr duty to them is plain. II It's as plain
conference viii deliberate this week. To the end that our schools may
"a pm siras ,sns,o We rsn u, pay ws saaar'es A e ' ,%s s%a that a. ' wr attract hog h anS
de tax rate may 90. n this sountry al this time we can get along
without a great many things for which great sums Of public money
are being spent. But we cannot get along without efficient education
Economy, Il by some Wild chance il should be practced somewhere in
te public business. cannot and must not start with the schools mp
70 the point al which ample funds are provided 10 pay competent
men and women for efficient service as school teachers.
Ia New Mexico we are more fortunate than in other states. The
law clearly permits Increases in present salaries paid 10 teachers
II Is only necessary that eeunty commissioners give intelligent con
sderation 10 the budgets that will be submitted during the next
thirty days by county boards Of education. All these budgets win
carry Increases for teachers salaries. Provided always that increased
efficiency IS a condition Of the increase in pay. there should be ready
approval Of every such budget by every board Of county commits
sioncrs in the state.
This must be kept in mind; The overwhelming shortage OF
teacherE u creating a demand that is searching the whole country
for competent men and women for the schools. In our comparative
isolation, particularly with regard TO our rural schools, prompt action
is necessary IL we are 10 secure and hold for next year competent
teaching forces for our common schools. Defects in other branches
Of our educational system can wait for attention. They have waited
years and can sSand some further delay in adjustment. The fact,
even, that less than fifty per cent Of our children complete the eighth
grade can wait a bit II need be. What we face right now is danger
that we may not have an efficient force Of teachers for primary grades
where our children are taught 20 read and write.
There Il before ua as this is written a list Of more than fifty
teachers who have accepted positions IN other states for the coming
year. Every one is competent and every one is from a position in a
New Mexico rural school. New Mexico cannot afford 10 lose many
more such teachers because at present there are none TO take their
places.
School budgets should be submitted early and should be APP
proved promptly by county commissioners, 10 the end that county
school authorities may fiji their staffs now, or have opportunity for
the search that is sure 10 be necessary to fhl the vacancies.