Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-15
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
What, Educators Think.

Mir. Editor: The State Teachers association, in convention at Hart ford, February 13-15, was addressed by sane, well informed men who have investigated at length the school sit- uation throughout the country.
 . These notes from addresses given at that session may prove interesting at this time.
 Supt. Stanley H. Holmes of New Britain: Tt is time the teachers as- stunned a position of aggressive lead ership for the betterment. of the ser vice and schools of America. The sit uation of the teacher must be made more satisfactory to the good of ali, and more attractive to the teacher The time has come when we should not sit and wait, leaving. it to the as we have in tl4e past. Ohio de- voted the week of February i5722 1 to recruitment of the teaching ser 1 vice, to encouraging young people to 1 study for the profession-a state wide l movement t1ecessitated by the short- l age of teachers and normal school pl- l pills"
 Dr. Hugh .Magill, of Springfield. III, | field secretary of the National Ed 1 ucational association: Before the war there was lack of appreciation
 by those in. public life of the value of 1 public schools. War proved that edu- 1 cation is the basis of public defense. From 1900 signed replies received in answer to questionnaries it was found l that 6 per cent. of school rooms are | vacant. Ten per cent of the teach CTS employed are confessedly below
 standard. Of 16,000 teachers in one 1 state, more than half were unquaIi- | fled to teach school. What can you 1 expect? We ldon7t go to ten -cent stores to buy diamonds. The enroll ment in normal; schools has fallen off 30 per cent. everywhere. Your own state. Connecticut, enrolls 477 this I year as compared to S9S in 1916t Cal II ifornia is the best off for teachers in
 the matter of numbers and profes-
 sional standing. There the public
 10000 people resulted in an inme-
 diate increase of teachers salaries The average is now $1y509."
 Dr. George D. Strayer, of Columbia University. New York: "Only one Il fifth of United States teachers are
 prepared for efficient work There is
 no other great civilized people where that situation is permitted. The public school service is now deterier
 ating." @
 Qn connection with the last state. r ment, readers are referred to articl, t in April Red Cross magazine entitled
 ''The Public School Falling Down.)
 Hon. A. B. Meredith, assistant com. 5 missioner of education for New Jer si sey: 'To offset the danger of deteri
 oration in quality and genera
 achievement of schools, somethinl
 must be done to secure more bette trained teachers; more contente,
 teachers; more prospective teachers In Ia- s men teaching than a year ago. Nor
 nal enrolment has fallen from 2,30 i in 1916, to 1,400 in 1920 But bus e mess schools have increased thei d enrolment from 150-40D per cent. Tn f 1 average. increase in cost of living i
 90 per cent. Have. salaries of teach
 CTS kept pace with that? We mus ,el arouse public. opinion. quicken tn s public conscience, let them know tn \, facts. And we must recognize indi Ill viduaI merit in teachers, as the bus
 mess world does. in it's employees
 Such teachers ought ito have som fl word in forming the educational poll l2 cies Of the state. Boards of educa " tion should be experts, not laymen.' z Herbert N. Tells, general agent i
 New York for. the Mass. Mutual Lii .e Ins. Coz Teachers and preachers al '. of the same class, equally importan $, ( "a producers of value, are unsurpasse 'h by any other class -~r 1.f. :. ,h Prof. F. F. Fairchild. of Yale .Un
 versity: Education is facing a crisi
 primarily a financial crisis. TT be really fundamental aspects of war a le not military but economic, The. e asl feet Of war will be with. us for rt generation. Pre-war conditions W S not be restored, we must bring I Ap incomes. Buildings, equipment al
 supplies must be on 8 new ,s; bas
 Wages and salaries tend to lag b 1t, hind prices. It is imperative tn ve teachers salaries be alternately i a l creased. Increases of 2o-30 or ev +v 50 per cent will not meet the si ot uation. One hundred per cent.
 necessary for two reasons; In justi hs to teachers, and to naintain t
 standard of teaching,
 And again. -Dr: Magill. .eThe pub ne schools belong to the people. Tn as are recognized by the people and ,su al ported by the people to do a work e ne pressly for the, people. Wes,fia' a .asl stayed too long. apart in our acaden @ isolation. We're got to get out fb | ne people with the message of what
 crisis our educational interests, whi