Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-04-09
Teachers Driven Off.

on.
Teachers Driven Off.
"They are not only implanting knOwl
edge, evoking power and teaching the
children how to use the knowledge
they give them, but they are also wag-
ing that silent battle against ignorance
and prejudice upon the successful out
come of which depends. very largely
the stability of this country. The av-
seraGe country school teacher in many
sections of this country receives less
than the average first class chauffeur
The college professor is not paid as
well as the average good bricklayer,
and the result has been that since the
war many of our ablest professors and
teachers have had to seek employment
in other lines of work.
"This condition is one which we must
terminate. Let us interest ourselves
in those who are doing more than any
other group to make the citizens of to-
morrow. The professors in our great
universities should receive salaries
which will enable them to live COM
fortably and to properly carry on their
work free from the constant anxiety
which comes from insufficient income
to meet the everyday expenses of life,
insufficient even under the most rigid
economy. The same general policy
should apply to assistant professors
and instructors and to teachers in our
public schools.
"At present the youth of our country
is being trained and our Ship of State
is being built by underpaid and, CON
sequently, discontented workmen. 1t
is a dangerous situation. 1t gives rise
/ to unsound and careless teaching.
Those who are in daily contact with
our youth and who implant in them
many of the vital principles of citizen
/ shin should feel that their services are
recognized and their value fully appre-
ciated. 1t is a dangerous policy tC
have the instruction of our youth OF
the country in the hands of many who
feel there is something radically wrong
in a government which fails to recog
! llZ6 lIl6 value vi lAlc SCI NiNC5 VI lAOSe
who are training its youth,
Give Teachers a Chance.
eve want our teaching force to fee
/, that it's services are appreciated ant
! the value of its work is understood. L
this is not done the services will b'
poorly rendered. We have In tht
:. teaching profession thousands of Splen
:. did men and women most of whom
could do much better, from the none.
standpoint, in other lines of work
/ They continue, however, simply be
5 cause they have the missionary spiri
and because they love their work
These teachers have the power, yer
largely, to shape the opinions an
prejudices of the youth of the nation
5 They can fill the souls of our childre
= with discomfort and opposition to GOV
: ernment, or they can fill them with tn
spirit of appreciation and patriotism
We should be as careful in the selet
tiOn of our teachers as we are in tn
/ selection of our clergy. They are tn
y teachers of the children of our new
comers, and the thorauGhHess wit
which this is done ana the spirit whic
is implanted will largely depend upo
the character and spirit of the teacl
u ers.
h IF we want to Americanize our II
h coming youth we must see to it thu
n the teaching force feels that the Anne
lean people has recognized its valr
and Importance. Salaries which wei
u sufficient, perhaps, a generation ae
are worth Only one-third of their TO
mer purchasing power. The compel
sation so small that men hesitate
/ assume the responsibilities Of ma
l. riage. Large families are out of Il
IS question. 1t is difficult to travel al
u have the necessary relations with Il
~ ~ leading minds of the day, and unle
= some changes are made we shall fiji
the quality of our teaching force +
,e duced to medfocrity. There is no ella
le OF men or women that is doing mo
lie arduous work. Let US give them
1T chance to do 1t under the best possin