Evening journal., 1920-10-09

iut ways WHICH Sudll we dJttpb |
Makeshift teachers OF the first two |
sufficient numbers by paying salaries |
relatively as large as those paid IN |
1914 TO have the same relative |
Value and purchasing power as sala- |
rles pad in 1914, the present |
salaries and salaries for some years |
10 come must be approximately twice |
as large as they were then.
We Must Have Strong Teachers
For teachers OF the third class-and !
We Should be satisfied with no other
We must pay salaries larger rela-
lively than we have paid at any time
In the past, and must adopt a policy
which will give such recognition TO
teachers Of unusual ability as VIII
hold them in the service OF the
schools against the temptation OF
better pay elsewhere. Temporary in
crease In pay OF teachers Will no. be
sufilc ent. There must be such guar
anty OF good wages In the years TO
some as will induce young men ana
women Of such native ability and
character as good teachers can be
made of TO accept teaching as a pro-
fession and take the time and spend
the money necessary to prepare them
selves for Il. The demand for pro-
fcssiOnal preparation and continued
service, coupled with inadequate pay,
can only result in supplying the
schools with teachers Of small cal
Der, unfit TO become the inspirers
and guides and educators of those
who are to make up the citizenry OF
the great democratic Republic, solve
the problems, and do the work OF
the new era. Such teachers are not
Mt seed corn FOR the new harvest to
which we should and do look FOR
ward.
For such teachers as we would
have in our schools what may be con-
sidered adequate pay2 The answer
is very easy and short. such pay as
may be necessary TO get aud keep
them. In a conference OF leaders OF
nat onal civic and patriotic societies
which met recently at my request
i'm Washington 10 was agreed that to
be considered adequate the wages Of
teachers should be as much as men
and women OF equal native ability,
education. spec al preparation, and
experience receive for other work re-
quiring as much time, energy, and
devotion and involving approximately
as niue responsibility.
Just how much this will mean in
dollars and cents in any community
I do not know. To determine the
amount in any State, city, or country
district will require a careful and
comprehensive study. But It can
/ quite easily he arrived at approXim-
ately, at least, for the country at
| large.
Average Salary Should BE $1,000
The average wealth production or
the adult worker Of the United States
Is not far from 81 $50 a year-prob-
ably somewhat more. The average
for men and women OF ability, prep
aration. and inlustry OF such teachers
as we are talk ng about can not be
less than $1,000; ii is probably neaIt
or three or four or flVe thousand
dollars But in view OF this TACT
that teaching Is by its very nature an
aliruistic call ng, and also because IL
may reasonably be supposed that the
purchasing power, Of me dollar VIII
| Increase considerably within the next
few years and the cost OF living as
measured in dollars relatively de-
crease, let us agree on $1,000 as an
average salary for teachers in the
elementary and secondary schools OF
tho United States This is three
times as much as the average for the
year 1918 and more than 100 per
cent above the average for the year
) i9i9-20.
II the nav to beginners is so fixed
]
, the FIRST year in urban and rura
, elementary schools and high schools
/ Is 81 POO. this will allow other sala
! res Of 81 800. 5000, $500, and $1,000
, Salaries OF 5000 or more may b'
> held out as rare pr zes for mos
who have gained experience and haN'
proven their worth and who are Will
, Ing and able to pay the pr'ce Of suc'
, great and fine serv ce as is recognize,
.rfIa n a
> siOns
The Money Can BE Raised
Can We pay such salaries? VIII
y such proper and useful economies, az
J may be easily brought about includ
. ing consol datiOn OF small rura
y schools and the adoption OF a well
n arranged work-study-play plan h
4 the city schools, the total number o
4 teachers In the public elementary an
secondary schools OF the unite
= states need not exceed 10000 With
Inc next 3 or 10 years. AT an ever
a age wage Of $1,000. 70 Will take
p billion and a half dollars to pa
n 10000 teachers. Increase this by )
4 per ceni.-a liberal amount-t0 pa
Z. FOR administration, supervision
m bu ldings equipment and supplies
n and we have a total or two and
quarter billions quarter Of hi
lion short OF Spaulding's two and
half billions and only Sti0,0O,O
. more than the amount the Depart
~ ment of Labor reports that we pal
is last year for tobacco I'm its variou
~ forms. Our part In the World Wa
~ in which We fought for freedom an
u democracy, cost us not less tina
" nfiy billions Of dollars all told. =
Us . per cent. the annual interest o
"a This amount is two and a half hi
~ lion dollars Without education theI
= can be neither freedom nor demo'
~ racv. Unless we educate all IN
Z, people In such way as TO enable thel
y io possess these i'm fullest measur
=, we shall have spent our money tc
y. naught and the men who sleep
y, France and Belgium shall have die
le can we pay the debt and pay
's like prop0rtion for educationY Th
"A answer is we can not we'll do the on
'u without The other Our power I
y produce and TO pay viii and must d.
~ mend on the health. knowledge. sk
4 purpose. and will Of the people; thu
"A is. on their education.
~ How can we afford 10 pay for edl
- cation? Since education is a facl(
/. which cannot be eliminated from n
10 weallh-prOducing power OF the, pei
~ ple and since all wealth depends G
" education, we can as a people amor
- 10 Increase our appropriations II
Us education until the Increase in co
M becomes greater than the increase
'h The productive power which CONF
through education. No people ha'
ever vet found the limit
'n viii the people pay2 The veal
ly fe theirs the children are theirs, u