Milford chronicle., 1920-07-02

Jule. Lit dfNAd5N SaAh ~ eAi-' -
for the last ten years has been Onl!
slightly more than / per cent.
= -
THE PROBLEM OF THE SCHOOLS
Two salient features of the pres
ent commencement season in educa
tional institutions of all grades mus
be apparent to every thoughtful OBJ
server; both of vital Importance tC
the welfare of the nation, and both
results, direct Or indirect, of the
great war. One, which should give
cause for sincere qualification, is the
great increase in the number Of pu-
pills. Universities, colleges, and sec
ondary schools have during the last
wear been thrOnged as never before,
and the prospect is for even greater
numbers next fall. The public schools
also are crowded, though attendance
at them is of course compulsory and
is therefore not as significant as it is
in institutions where it is voluntary.
I There is little doubt that the war has,
as an interesting by-product mater
tally stimulated the desire for know
ledge, and thus has contributed to
the increased attendance at inssitu-
tions of higher learning.
The other feature is almost the re-
verse of this. t. is the scarcity Of
teachers, the ilferior quality of many
who az. employed for lack of better,
and the consequent closing of many
schools and deterioration Of many
more. This rule applies to public
schools somewhat more than to second
ary schools and colleges, though they
all suffer from it to some extent. We
recently called attention to the re-
port Of the Bureau of Education con-
cerning the shortage of teachers and
the numbers of schools closed, run on
part time, or taught by inefficient
persons. Now comes another report
from high authority to similar effect.
Illt IAuSctlA 1dEE LOhAAuAAAbh mus
that the public schools Of the entire
country. considered on points of at
lated items, show an average eff
lated items. show an avearge eff
cheney of only % per cent. Even in
the great State of New York, where
one of the best school systems in the
centage of efficiency is only 559.4. Sec
centage of efficiency only 559.4. See
ing that the public schools are the on
ly schools which the vast majority of
Americans ever attend, it is perti-
nent to inquire how we can hope to
produce 100 per cent American citizens,
at least intellectually, in % per cent
schools.
Of course the reason for this de-
plorable state of affairs is easy to dis
Germ. It is expressed in two short
words: Poor pay School teachers are
after all human beings, who need Tod
ging. clothing and food, and who are
entitled to a little more remunera-
tion than just enough to provide those
necessaries. At the present time they
are generally very much underpaid.
There has been no such increase in
their salaries as there has been in
tn pay of many others, including
many of far less importance to the
welfare Of the community and the
State. Many a young woman school
| teacher receives smaller wages than
the kitchen maid in her boarding
house. Many a high school teacher,
even a college professor. sees artisans
better paid than himself. In such
+ circumstances it 81 only human ma
ture for teachers to abandon their
calling for something which will pay
them better, and naturally it is the
most competent who do this, because
of the greater demand for their SER
vice outside and the greater promise
of pay.
The colleges and universities see
this, and feel the stress. and are try
ING to deal with the situation by
making drives for funds, in many
cases announcing that the increased
endowments sought are to be used for
the purpose of increasing the salaries
of the faculties. In the public schools
the problem is more serious still, and
l.. s,, fNhp
community or the State must provide
the needed funds. And this must be
done in the face of the already high
taxes which the people are paying
Otherwise we shall suffer the irrepablt
loss Of an uneducated or ineficiently
educated generation at the very time
when the best possible education i.
urgently needed.
A fine example has recently beer
set by the city of Newark, New Jersey
under the leadership Of an enlighten'
ed. progressive and resolute head Of
its Board Of Education. Every teach
er on the annual payroll has receiv-
ed an increase of S40O. in addition tC
the automatic increases, which range
from $50 to $500. A bonus of 500 i:
also given to every regular teacher
and provision is made for regular an
nual increases hereafter Of double the
amount hitherto prevailing. All dis.
crimination between men and womer
teachers is be abolished. Each teach
or who has served ten years IS e