The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-04-09

ence, should receive favorable consid-
Grafton at the hands of the voters and
patrons of the schools. A school di-
rector should at least possess the fol-
flowing qualifications: Public spirited,
with power of leadership; knowledge
of the value of education and a WILL
INGNESS TO TAKE THE LEAD IN
SELLING THE SCHOOLS TO THE
COMMUNITY AND NOT WAIT FOR
THE COMMUNITY TO DISCOVER
THE SCHOOLS. They should believe
that THE SCHOOLS WERE ESTAB-
LISHED TO SERVE THE CHILL
DREN, not to save the taxpayers
money. They should be persons who
know there is the same difference be-
tween trained and unframed teacher
as there is between razor back hog
and thoroughbred. The future of
the public school system rests in the
hands of the various boards of educa-
ton"
The following editorial, which the
County Superintendent regards as
most timely, appeared in last Mon
days issue of the ST. Louis Globe
| Democrat:
According to a survey of conditions
in thirty-nine counties, made by the
Associated Industries of Missouri, the
average salary Of the 517S teachers in
those counties is $458 year. When
it is considered that the average of the
highest salaries is only $1248, and that
there are but few Of these, it will be
seen that no teacher is being paid
what would be considered a large sal
airy and that the average of $458 for
all means that large number are re-
ceiving much less than that. 1t is no
wonder that great decrease in the
number of good teachers is reported.
or that there is a falling off in the
number Of applicants for teaching GER
tlflcates to the extent of one-half. Nor
Is 1t any wonder that some superin-
tendents are compelled to resort to the
issuance of certificates to applicants
who fail to pass the minimum exami-
nation formerly required. In other
words, because of the low salaries the
schools Of Missouri are gradually be-
ing supplied with teachers of lower
qualifications than hitherto have been
considered the minimum necessary for
satisfactory teaching. AS the largest
prospective increase in salaries report
ed by any of these counties is 10 per
cent, the most Of them report no con-
templated increase whatever, it may
safely be stated that the country
schools of Missouri face crisis. They
are threatened with an inability to Sc
cure any teachers whatever who may
be considered qualified to teach and
with great difficulty in securing any
at all in many districts.
Everywhere there has been an in
crease in the sale price of commodi-
ties and of labor. A comparison of
the farm prices of products in 1915
and 1919 show an increase of from
100 to 300 per cent. Wages on the
farms have gone up 100 per cent Ev-
erything the farmer buys has advanc-
ed, except teaching ability. 1t is the
same with every resident of Mssou-
ri, in country and city. We have paid
these great increases in the price of
everything, but have not been willing
to pay like increase in the cost of
teaching our children and equipping
them for their life struggle. In the
cities where it is possible for enough
of them to unite and exert a strong
Influence, some addition to salaries has
been made, or will be made, but lit
tie or no advance whatever has been
made in districts outside the large
cities. Why we expect to pay much
more for everything we buy or need
in our daily lives except the service
of those who teach our children Is a
mystery that must be passed on for So
luton to those who make a speciality
of psychological diagnosis. The fact
remains that it is true, that 1t Is
wrong both to the teachers and the
children and that great damage will De
done to the quality of our public
schools unless there is change in the
attitude of the people towards them"
J. CLYDE AKERS,
Co. Supt. of Schools.