The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-10
SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS
SHOWN BY INVESTIGATION

Columbia, Feb. A shortage of
teachers in the public schools Of
South Carolina amounting to ll65
rer cent of the teaching force, the
employment Of Il large numhc" OF
teachers below standard and q large
number Of teachers under twenty-one
years of age, made necessary by the
failure Of teachers pay TO keep up
with the cost of living. IS shown IN q
report made by the National Educa-
ton Association Of an investigation
conducted by that organization into
the teacher situation in South Caro-
Ina and throughout the nation. A
very serious situation is shown in
the report Of the investigation in
South Carolina, copy Of which has
been ecejved in Columbia from the
Washington offices of the National
Education association.
The report of the investigation
shows not only q present shortage OF
teachers but that teachers throughout
the country are leaving the profes-
sion and that promising young men
and women are not being attracted to
teaching as in the past. The same
conditions that are shown for South
Carolina are shown, in varying de-
g-ees, for the entire nation.
1T is very noticeable" says the re-
port, that in those states where sal
aries are highest. conditions are best,
and where salaries are lowest the cor
ditions are most serious" The short
age of teachers in South Carolina Is
shown to be much greater than the
shortage for the entire nation, though
the percentage of teachers who left
the profession during 1919 is some
what larger than the percentage
which left the profession in South
Carolina during the year.
The information contained in the
National Educational association re-
port of it's investigation was received
from state and county superinten-
dents. The percentage of teachers
who dropped out of the profession in
South Carolina last year was 2O.21.
New teachers entered the work to
the number of twenty-eight per cent.
the increase being made up largely
of young people below standard and
under twenty-one years of age.
The total shortage of teachers for
last year was found by the investiga-
ton to be 1853 per cent for this
state, as compared with 5.6S per cent
of the entire country. The percent
age of teachers below standard for
last year was 1888 in South Caro-
lima as compared with 9.S2 per cent
for the entire country. This means
that the standard Of the teaching pro-
fession is Lower in South Carolina
than the average for the entire ra-
ton. The total shortage Of teachers
who are up to standard in South
Carolina was found to be 30.47, as
compared with i per ce::t 70" the
nation.
The National Education association
received reports in its invest;Tat:on'
from fourteen superintendent.
Twelve of these reported that it vas
necessary in 1919 to accept lover
qualifications in order to supply
teachers. For the entire nation the
ratio of lowering standard was a.
most rs great. Thirteen Of the super
intendents reported that teachers
salaries have not kept pace with sal
aries in other lires Of work nor with
the advance in the cost Of living.
Similar conditions were found to exist
everywhere in America. About half
the reports received from superlnten-
dents of this state and also of the en-
tire country reported that the number
of teachers below the age of twenty
one is on the increase. Practically all
the reports showed that young men
and women of promise are turning to
other work than of teaching.
''The relation Of public education
to the welfare Of the state and the
nation. says the report from the Ma
tional Education association, "as
we'll as to the individual, is so I'M
portant that statesmen everywhere
are taking a deep interest in prob
lens relating to the public schools.