The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-15


The local Teachers Association met
at the Court House at $50 A. W., Sat
urday, January 10th, Miss Agnes
Rude presiding.
A specialization recitation in history,
planned by Miss jBlanding, was sc
interesting that those present voted
to stay overtime to continue it.
A letter from the committee OF
teachers wages was read. This COM
mittee was appointed by the State
Association, L. d. Harvey of Menomi-
ME, chairman. The State Association
voted $1,000 for investigating teach
ars' wages, expenses, ETC., with the
purpose in view of bringing the sum-
mary before the people. The commit
tee finds the task so large that a full
time secretary must be employed.
This involves expense and the teachers
are asked to contribute $1.00 each te
boost the undertaking, Principals
are asked to contribute $500 each. The
money should be sent to the County
Superintendent who will forward it
1T is a personal and professional call
Let each respond as though it were
his own business.
Teachers as a body have always
been underpaid. Some advance In
salary has been made of late, but not
in proportion to that in other call
|ings,- AS result fewer are attracted
to teaching and the quality of teach
ing is falling down.. There is much
chaff and too little grain. Some will
say that such and such a teacher gets
more than she is worth. This may be
true and goes to prove that we should
pay enough to get teachers who are
worth more into the schools. We
must pay enough to. attract and keep
worth while teachers.
There nave always been, and are
now, some excellent teachers, but
there are too many without vision of
the greatness of teaching. Many a
beginner who has the native ability to
become great teacher, finds the con-
ditions so hard and the pay so mad
|equate, she quits before she realizes
the wonderful opportunity for service
teaching affords. We need these peo-
pie in the work! There are those who
get such satisfaction from guiding and
training the children that they are
fairly content to ski1np along on mea-
gre pay. These are the ones that
should be well paid and we should
seek to increase their number.
If salaries were large enough to at
tract many to the work, poor and
weak teachers could be weeded out,
and better standards could be main
tanned. Those who stayed in would
not have to sponge upon relatives or
take up side line of work in order
to exist. The energy now spent on
trying to keep up appearances on a
stipend could be diverted into teaching
The schools have practically done
all that has been done in Americaniza-
ton, in this country. We are looking
to them now to bear this burden. If
it is to be done we must have teachers
who will stay in the work and make a
business of teaching If larger salar-
les will bring this about we must have
larger salaries.
Worthwhile teachers must have ed
|ucation, culture and character, coupled
with teaching power and vital interest
in children Salaries will not give
these attributes, but.they make it pos
sible for people having them to make
teaching profession.
On motion, it was voted to send this
information to each teacher in the
County. 49,
The next meeting will be held Sat
urday, January 81, at $3.50 A. M.
Plans are on foot for !. Joint meeting
with the Washburn city teachers.
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