The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-26
THE REAL REASON

News ulSpatCutS lTOHl All 9cN'''''"
Of the country, are to the effect that
teachers are quitting the profession
in droves, and entering other lines
OF industry.
The assumption seems t. be general
that, underpaid, the ones who have
been guiding the developing minds OF
the coming men and women are seek
ing more remunerative avocations.
In the abstract this is true, but in
the concrete, it is not, There can
be no doubt but that low salaries
have been, primarily, responsible for
many teachers quitting their most
honorable profession, but there is a
deeper and a more pertinent reason
we had almost said a more dis
graceful reason-which is actuating
The teachers OF all classes in their
determination te enter other fields
Of endeavor.
The school boards, appreciating the
fact that more money must be paid
for skilled labor, have increased sal
aries until now the teacher, in most
instances, is paid a living wage, but
this has not, we regret to state, been
done because the boards believe the
servant is worthy his hire, but be.
cause stress of circumstances have
made it incumbent TO pay better
salaries or close the schools
In the meanwhile the real trouble,
the cancer which is eating the life
out of the public schools of the
country remains untouched, while the
public, composed Of the patrons Of
the school, in place Of doing all that
can be done to eliminate the evil, is
adding to the fire, and doing. it
seems, their utmost, as individuals,
to aggravate the disease.
Everyone knows that cooperation
between employees and employe in
every line OF business is essential 10
the success of the business. The
man who runs a store, the man who
operates bank, the corporation which
handles a big business-all must have
the cooperation and the good will
of the employees, and the employees
must have the cooperation and the
good will Of the employer. Unless
spirit Of perfect coordination is
manifest, the business will go to the
bow-wows, the employees will walk
out, while the sheriff closes the doors,
or the receiver takes charge of the
affairs of the institution.
The school teacher is but the EN-.
ploye of a big corporation. The
patrons of the schools, district by
district, city by city. form q cor.
poration every member of which must
lend his whole-hearted support to the
teachers, from superintendent down,
if good returns are TO be expected
and IL good teachers are to be re.
tained.
The real reason, therefore, why so
many teachers are quitting the pro.
fession, seeking other and more pleas.
ant occupations is found in the half.
hearted manner in which all communi.
ties cooperate with the teachers
coupled with the real antipathy, and
open antagonism shown by some
and the uncallcd for fights which
others stage against the teachers
caring nothing what may become of
the schools just SO the teachers scalp
Is taken
The men and women who have
trained themselves, at great expense
and boundiess personal endeavor, to
teach the young boys and girls are
getting tired Of the nerve.racking
strain which they are under in futile
effort to please everyone, to pound
and drive and drill and beat inteli.
gence and knowledge into unrecep-
tive minds. They are getting tired
of working early and late, giving un.