Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-03-25
DAVIS URGES HIGHER
PAY FOR TEACHERS
GOVERNOR SAYS EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM OF STATE is
SUFFERING

Taking up the cudgels for the school
teachers of Idaho, Governor Davis has
set forth their cases in the following
statement:
ga most unfortunate condition eX-
lists not only in Idaho schools but all
over the United States The alarming
feature is that one of the most i'm
portant branches of our national ac-
tivity, education, is losing its teachers
rapidly because of the inadequacy Of
remuneration for their efforts.
Everyone knows that a person
holding a position becomes more pro
fcient as the length of term Of his
service extends, but so strong has
been the call to teachers from other
scOurces and so unattractive because
of the high cost of living and small
salaries has the teaching profession
in the grade schools become, that out
of $50 positions in southern Idaho, 39l
teachers were new to their schools
last year. 1t is a situation that every
thinking man and woman of Idaho
must do their best to meet
SHORTAGE OF 100 TEACHERS
ga survey and summary of the ex-
act situation has recently been made
There is an actual shortage of APP
proximately 100 teachers at this time.
Four hundred fifty teachers began
their work on permits last fall and
when examinations were taken lI2
failed. Are we getting the quality OF
men and women into the profession
that we should? What must we do
to attract the higher class?
Are the proficient people now
teaching being encouraged to con
tinue2 We are facing a great short
age of teachers, retardation Of pro
qress. and we may feel sure that few
err applications for places as teachers
are to result from the fact that the
problem has not been properly solved.
If seems to me that two fundamentals
stand out in the solution. We must
oive better living conditions and bet
fer salaries. By better living con
ditions it is suggested by those who
have carefully surveyed the subject
that the erection Of teachers cottages
and the provision for better boarding
nlaces might meet the issue.
MUST MEET SALARY QUESTION
".While the salary question will have
TO be bodily met, with the compleue
understanding of the public thar
teachers are like any other workers.
and they must have sufficient income
70 meet their necessary and talr eX-
penses.
1fTJnless we attrect people who can
mass examinations and give high class
service into the profession III ldaho
Il means that the quality of our
scbools and the quality of the future
citizenship of our growing boys anu
Girls win be reduced. Idaho people
have alwav been intensely interested
in education. No state in the Union
furnishes better buildings and equip |
ment and the public schools have re-
ceived the loval support Of the Popu
lation. but buildings and equipment
and Tho desire to help on the part OF
tbo neoplc will not educate the emil
dren unless the people themselves
meet the two problems which nave
outlined. e o1roo
+ion 70 90 into their local problems
Nth GREAT care and judgment and
mt mn the facts as they find them III
The most frank way to the voters III
tho April elections My experience mas
heen that the suffrage of the 5eoPle
,rbon they know the subject through |
frank discussion, usually brings SOU
lions that are Just and right TO the
auctions before them.