Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-27
From Other Viewpoints
Teacher Shortage Must He Overcome
Bi l.. s. EVENDEN. PHI. d.

Never before has the need o: trained lead
crshin in our schools been so great as at ~.
present time. New and vitality important prob
lens are largely dependent upon the schools
for settlement With four-ffths OF the coun-
trys teachers having little professional
training IT is very important that the supply
OF t,a!ned leaders he Immediately and mate
rally Increased. II is a fact that one on, or
""e:y seven professionally trained teachers
in the United States has received training a,
one institution in New York City. These
teachers are 10 be found in all branches or
education and in all the States and max
ing an important contribution toward meeting
the present education emergency
Every school system is undergoing the cS-
pc'icn or having larger number Of its
teachers rcSisninS 10 occupy more remunera-
tive occupations than ever before IL is not
easy 10 make comparisons with other lines OF
work, which are in every sense fair compari-
sons. since it is difficult TO select other occu-
pat!ons which demand the same amount OF
preparation and similar expenditure OF nerve
energy. professional upXcep. etc. 1t is not
1Hhcuit, however, TO hnd any number OF
cupii:ons which are materially better IA id
than teachers.
When the comparison was made with mn-
s"tll"d labor we found that for 1918 section
hands on railroads received u larger annuai
salary ihan the average salary for all teach
crs In the United Suites. When compa:ison
- made with the unsklied or sem!skined Ia
Tor we hnd That many occupations bring from
." to 3eo per cent more returns during the
year than teaching.
During the year 1915. the teachers OF the
country received an average salary Of sGa0.G4
while the workers in the shipbuilding yards
70" inc sam" year averaged salary of Slill.
IN" comparison liz even discourage ing
NhtS ieaNicrs ere compared with the othcr
professions. There arc many teachers we'll
prepared for their WORK lawyers, dOctu!s
engineers and others WHO. after ten years o.
%egv'cr. 'r. receiving Legs than 81. 500 per year
The 1918 class or Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology ten years .f;cr graduation were
receiving ..verage SALARY ,ot S34i0. The
:.v"raxe income Of 1850 men Of the American
society Of civil Engineers in lSI4 was S4li0
IhiS Ngn't would be much higher II the add
nee caused by the war were included
rnc shortage Of teachers cannot ne in any
sense overcome nor can the very insufficient
preparation which the teachers OF the country
have for their work lie rempdied until ade-
Hnat. salaries paid This cannot be done
Until salary schedules made the result OF
careful ana intelligent study. These SEIZED
ulcs can no longer lie bcsrd upon traditional
salaries nor upon what has been paid in the
district Instead they must consider the
OF preparation and Insure adequate return.
Teachers expected 10 cxempiify the best
Ideals and standards Of American life. This
cannot be done upon salary which liz less
tran two-thirds as adequate in its purchasing
co"'r as t"c teachers salary Of 1914.
Inc present situation can. in large U.s.
hc traced TO the fact the public does not
i nation and az communities. we are amply
able 10 AFFORD the very hes, kind OF educat ION
al service. The thinking citizens well know
that no other Investment OF public moneys
Will hiring e:oa;er returns than one which
secures more intelligent citizenship.
Some Sta'cs. several large cities and a
rumber Of smaller places have all clearly
shown that they not only can. but are more
than wiling TO support the best kind OF edu-
cation when the community becomes con-
scious OF the need "a dozen moro all
ci'ies' ranging 10 p0tllation from 5000 up.