Connecticut western news., 1920-06-03
WOOD FLAYSLOW
 TEACHERS PAY
No Class in Country Engaged in More Constructive Labor
 Than Educators.

Leonard Wood, whose executive ex- periences in this country, Cuba and the Philippines have impressed him with the fundamental importance of educa- tion as a factor in progressive civiliza- tion, has become of late a powerful in- strumentality in forcing upon the at- tention of the American people the dis astrous consequences that will follow the continued underpayment of our teachers and professors. His stirring words in behalf of better conditions functory, but spring from a well-found- ed conviction, forced upon him by mi- mute observation of educational de- tails in many parts of America, and presage a more promising outlook for our teachers in the future should Wood become President of the United States. Wood says:
 "Our educators are very much under paid. There is no class today in Amer ica which has the opportunity to do more important or more constructive work in the building up of good citizen ship-I do not know that I could ex- cept the church itself-than those who are teaching in our universities and schools. They are forming the men and women of tomorrow. They are working quietly, but effectively, day after day, week after week, and month after month. They have our children with them much\more than we have them, and as they incline the minds of these youngsters, so will they be later on.
 Teachers Driven of.
 "They are not only implanting knowl- edge, evoking power and teaching the children how to use the Knowledge they give them, but they are also wag- ing that silent battle against ignorance and prejudice upon the successful out come of which depends very largely the stability of this country. The av- craze country school teacher in many sections of this country receives less . than the average first class chauffeur. The college professor is not paid as well as the average good bricklayer, and the result has been that since the war many of our ablest professors and teachers have had to seek employment in other lines of work.
 "This condition is one which we must terminate Let us interest ourselves in those who are doing more than any other group to make the citizens of to- morrow. The professors in our great universities should receive salaries which will enable them to live con- fortably and to properly carry on their work free from the constant anxiety which comes from insufficient income to meet the everyday expenses of life. insufficient even under the most rigid economy. The same general policy should apply to assistant professors and instructors and to teachers in our public schools.
 "At present the youth of our country Is being trained and our Ship of State is being built by underpaid and, con sequently, discontented workmen. Ii is a dangerous situation. It gives rise to unsound and careless teaching. Those who are in daily contact with our youth and who implant in them many of the vital principles of citizen ship should feel that their services are recognized and their value fully appre- ciated. It is a dangerous policy to have the instruction of our youth of the country in the hands of many who feel there is something radically wrong Tn a government which fails to recog- nize the value of the services of those who are training it's youth.
 Give Teachers Chance.
 "We want our teaching force to feel that its services are appreciated and the value of its work is understood. If this Is not done the. services will be poorly rendered. We have in the teaching profession thousands of splen- did men and women most of whom could do much better, from the money standpoint, in other lines of work. They continue, however, simply be- cause they have the missionary spirit and because they love their work. These teachers have the power, very largely, to shape the opinions and prejudices of the youth of the nation. They can, fill the souls of our children with discontent and opposition to gov ernpent, or they can fill them with the spirit of appreciation and patriotism. We should be as careful in the selec- ton of our teachers as we are in the selection of our clergy. They are the teachers of the children of our new corners, and the thoroughness with which this is done and the spirit which is implanted will largely depend upon the character and spirit of the teach CTS.
 "If we want to Anericanize our in- coming youth we must see to 1t that the teaching force feels that the Amer ican people has recognized it's value and importance. Salaries which were sufficient, perhaps, a generation ago are worth only one-third of their for mer purchasing power. The compen-