The Washington herald., 1920-02-24

cation indicates that probably over
100000 teaching positions in our
public schools are now vacant or are
filled by teachers below standard.
The attendance of our normal
schools and teacher training schools
Is 20 per cent below our needs.
10000 Teachers Underpaid.
It appears that there are prob
ably 10000 teachers in the United
States who receive less than $3.50 a
year. Increases have been given in
various parts of the country. more
especially In the larger cities. but
a study of these increases reveals
that they range from 10 to Is per
cent and yet the cost of living has
advanced so to IS per cent. This
situation of beartbreaking under
payment is not confined to our
common schools There is not a
university in the United States to-
day that Is not losing month by
month some of its best ability by
the competition of commerce.
The 100000 or 500. 900 teachers of
the United States are men land
women trained to a profession of
a high and honorable pride. Sherry
in order to live, they are being
forced to leave this profession,
where their hope has been not to
secure wealth. but to serve.
No Need to Compete.
The teaching profession with its
high standard and its high ideals of
service does not need to compete upon
common basis with commerce in
salaries. Our teachers have always
hRar. L. y o.. IL
In commerce. Its call to service Is the
pursuit and transmission of truth to
our children. This call attracts the
finest of American character, even at
q financial sacrifice. This very sacri-
fice contributes to the character and
standing Of our educational system,
for It Is a sitting Of idealism into
service. We do not wish to place our
schools on the baSis where they at
tract sheerly by money, but there is
a point beyond which we have no
right to accept sacrifice. There is q
point to which sacrifice physically
cannot be given. We have gone below
that level.
We have erected in the United
States a vast and complex democracy.
the success OF which is founded on
the highest state of education and
understanding. We have heard much
of illiteracy and Americanization. We
have heard much of the necessity Of
suppressing child labor. But the prirn-
airy foundation upon which Ameri-
caniZation Is to bo accomplished: by
which illiteracy Is to be overcome: by
which children are to be benefited by
taking them from the factories and
mines, rests primarily upon their re-
cefving education at the hands Of the
country. We hear a great deal OF
radicalism, and il we fear radicalism
We should examine the picture of the
sacrifice OF our teachers parallel with
waste and extravaganza Of over-swoI-
len fortunes.
Leaders Must BE Trained.
When we come to the higher
ranges of education. where the spe-
cialists and leaders of this country
must be trained. we find the same
difficulties confronting these insti-
tutions. II We look back over the
history of universities, not only of
the United States. but OF Europe. we
find one outstanding political fact.
1t has been the continuity of these
institutions in Joining experience
and thought of the past with the
ideas Of the day that has given
stability and impulse to civilization.
Since the foundation of the oldest
university at Cracow the character
of the government of Poland has
changed a dozen times. This institu-
tion has never ceased to canvass
free thought, free specific SOW the
seed from which springs human lib
erty. Whep all other Institutions
have apparently crumbled. these
educational institutions have gone
on pouring out men of character
and ideas. from whom new govern
ments, the evolution of freedom and
better government have arisen.
There is something great and prec-
ious in the continuity of these in
stitutions- II we are to aspire to a
growing civilization, we cannot allow
our universities to fall below our
national ideals sheerly because we
starve our teachers.
Change Must BE Gradual.
1t is contended by some that this
condition Is temporary and that our
economic levels will yet return to a
pre-war basis. This is probably true,
but is the long view A study made
u NhC pIOuuCllOn OIL COIlInOOI-
ties in the United States during the
past fve years will show that there
has been an increase Of but per cent
in actual commodity production. There
has been a period OF unparalleled de-
struction Of these commodities. A par
allel study of our credit institutions,
as distinguished from our saw
ings banks, will shsow an in
crease Of 11s per cent of cred
its in the same period of years.
A further study Of our commodity
price index shows q rise of ia per
cent Whether we believe this in
creased ratio of money and credit to
commodities is the cause, or whether
we believe it is the effect, the result
Is the same. The moral is that it will
take time to>get down from this situa-
tion- 1t will not happen over a month.
or over a year-unless we have finan-
cial crash-or perhaps over five years,
and in the meantime measures must
be taken that will save and even in
crease the standards of our schools
during this period Of readjustment.
Crisis Not New Event.
Such a crisis in our educational sys-
lSin ID hOI q new event. anu II 10 dp-
proprihte to this day and subject
that should quote George Washing
ton, who at one time said:
In a. country like this, where
equal liberty is enjoyed, where
every man may reap his own
harvest. which, by proper atten-
tion, will afford him much more
than is necessary for his own
consumption, and where there
ia m arnnla