Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-21
STATE HOUSE


DR.. Augustus o. Thomas. state su-
perintendent of public schools. in "a
statement sent out Friday to super
intendents Of schools and superin-
tending school committees In speak
ing Of the action Of the Governor and
Council in providing a way for an in
crease in pay Of teachers, declares
that our teachers are sincere and
that no more patriotic, country low
ing, sacrificing citizens can be found.
DR.. Thomas explains that through
action Of the Governor and Council.
the sum Of $780, 900 from the contin-
gent fund is set over into the equal
ization fund to be distributed in &C
cordance with Section l66 and 167 OF
Chapter 16 OF the laws Of Maine, the
purpose being to cover an emergency
which now exists within the State
brought about by a shortage OF pre-
pared teachers and the lack Of inter-
est on the part Of our young people
In preparing for the profession.
| he says: This fund is to be used
directly for salary increases in those
towns which are now struggling to
. hold UP their end in the emergency
under high tax rate. The average
! salary of the 2,147 teachers in one
teacher schools in 1919 was $457.51;
while the average salary Of the 1851
teachers in two or more teacher
. schools, including city schools, was
$586OS. making the salary of all
teachers below the secondary schools
Of the state a general average or
$5O7.54. The salaries of union super
intendents is no better in comparison
/ This year we have lost heavily.
We have 566 less normal graduates in
our schools then we had one year
ago, and in the same length of time
we have lost 300 Of our men. Our
normal schools are graduating only
about 5000 of the number graduated
before the war. Prepared teachers
are leaving the schoolroom constant
ly to 60 into other lines Of work.
Heroic effort is necessary and every
one who is interested must lend a
hand. No matter what we may do
-
will require a program of from three
to five years to put us on our feet
again and ready to go ahead SO far as
our teaching staff is concerned. We
not only want to fill our teaching pO-
sitions but we want to fill them
with the right sort Of teachers. Last
September we had 1888 beginners;
less than 200 had technical training.
| Teaching is the only profession
wherein recruits are accepted with no
special training for the profession
they enter. It is important that
something be done to induce our best
young people to take up preparation
for the teaching profession and I'M
less an adequate wage scale can be
guaranteed they will not do it. Nor
NAL schools throughout the United
States have only from 5000 to 500 Of
their former attendance.
THE 100000 so generously grant,
ed by the Governor and Council add
ed to the $4,000 already in the equal
ization fund makes $4,000 available
for towns who make special effort
to meet the present emergencies If
the town will put up an equal
amount it will mean 100000 which
would give an average Of $3.50 per
year to everyone of the 1000 teach
ers in the strictly rural schools Of
the state or 5000 increase to pre-
pared teachers and 500 to others
This would make possible a schedule
of $3.50 to $1,000 for rural teachers
who are prepared by education and
service. and $3.50 to 500 for other
teachers. Any teacher who is fit to
be in the service should have a liv-
ing wage.
"The enlarged equalization fund
will be distributed among the towns
and plantations Of the state whose
common school tax rate and munici-