Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-16

When the State Teachers asso-
citation meeting at Albuquerque de-
termfned upon direct action to
secure legislation for salary in
crease to a minimum of 500 per
month, the teachers won COM
mendation from all over the United
States. The American School
Journal of Milwaukee says, among
ether things:
AT the recent meeting of the
state Teachers association of New
Mexico, 1000 OF the states $500
educators present, q committee of
nine made a report, which was en-
Enthusiastically adopted, as follows:
RESOLVED that the teachers OF
this state do hereby unite them
selves more definitely to the end
that better salaries ae obtained,
that the executive committee and
two others chosen by the commit
tee shall constitute a committee to
frame a definite program which
shall establish the minimum salary
of 1920 for all first grade teach
ers of the state (and above) and
shall provide that county superln-
tendents receive as much compen-
sation as any other county officer,
that each teacher in the state who
expects to continue IN the teaching
profession shall contribute at least
S. for all who receive salaries of
less than 800 monthly, and on a
graduated scale for all receiving
larger salaries for the purpose of
carrying on the work of the COM
mittee
Resolved that the money so
raised shall be used to pay the sal
man who shall spend his whole
time until the next legislature
meets in visiting every county and
city board Of education in the state
to present the program of the
teachers for better salaries. all to
he done in accordance With demo-
cratic principles, but IN a way that
indicates that an organized body
of 5000 New Mexico teachers. is
backing it; further that this money
also be used in advertising in all
publications and in any effective
way which shall bring before the
public the Justice of a living wage
for the teachers of New Mexico"
And it may be noticed that the
New MeXicans felt able to handle
their own proposition; they did not
send for an imported organizer to
harangue them upon their wrongs
end point out that the yoke of the
|oppressor could be broken only by
paying him so much an organize to
take them into. his organization,
which would show them how to
fight for their rights.
They did not affiliate them
selves with the National Bankers
association, nor with the National
Federation of Labor, nor with the
National Association of Manufac-
turers, nor the National Grange,
nor with the United States Cham
Der of Commerce, nor with any
other organization outside of their
profession and depend on that out
side agency to look after their in
tercsts. They seemed to rcmem-
Der that "Who would be free, him
self must strike the blow" and
they said, Resolved that the teach
ors of this state do hereby unite
themselves most definitely"
And in another way these New
McXicans sound a high note, They
seem to have been weak enough to
leave out of their declarations all
reference to fighting.
They pledge themselves to con-
tribute SIS each for teachers re-
ceiving less than 800 per month,
and more in proportion for those
whose salaries are larger And
what for? 70 import eXhorters
who shall infIame the teachers
against their employers? Not ut
all. The teachers already know
the situation 1t is the public and
the school officials who need to be
reached.
SO this fund is to be used "to
pay the salary and travelling eX-
penses Of a man who shall spend
his whole time until the next leg
islature meets i'm visiting every
county and city board of education
in the state to present the program
of the teachers for better salaries.
Going direct TO the seat of the diff
ficulty, this; to the people who de-
cide~ within tho limits of the funds
available, what the pay of teachers
shall be.
The resolution provides further
that the money raised MAY also
be used in advertising in all pub
lications and in any effective way
which shall bring before the public
the justice Of living wage for the
teachers of New Mexico" Going
again direct to the seat of the diff
ficulty, to the masters of the coun-
ty and city boards. If the public is
informed-thc men and women
whom these boards reprcsent--if
they want the pay Of teachers
made adequate; if they, when
funds are short, say to the boards
increase the school tax" or, Il
when the tax limit is too low, the
public sees to it that legislation to
increase the available school funds
is had; If the public, having be-
come fully informed on this matter,
speaks clearly and firmly to any
wavering board of education, how
many such boards will refuse the
mandate?
~ h..