Evening journal., 1920-10-09

1874. To have the same relative
aluc and purchasing power as sala-
ries pad In 1874, the present /
salaries and salaries for some Years |
to come must be approximately twice |
as large as they were then.
We Must Have Strong Teachers
For teachers OF the third class-and |
We should be satisfied with 40 other |
we must pay salaries larger rela- !
lively than we have paid at any time
in The past, and must adopt a policy |
which Will give such recognition to /
teachers OF unusual ability as WI |
hold them in the service OF the f,
schools against the temptation OF 1
better pay elsewhere. Temporary in /
crease in pay Of teachers Will no. be /
suillc ent. There must be such guar |
0nty Of good wages In the years TO |
some as viii induce young men and |
women Of such native. ability and |
character as good teachers can be |
made Of 10 accept teaching as a pro- |
fession and take the time and spend !
The money necessary 10 prepare them /
selves for t. The demand for pro- |
fcssional preparation and continued |
service. coupled with inadequate pay, |
can only result in supplying the |
schools with teachers OF small cal !
Der, UNIT TO become the inspirers |
and guides and educators of those
who are to make up the citizenry OF
the great democratic Republic solve
the problems, and do the work OF
The new era. such teachers are not
M seed corn for the new harvest TO
which we should and do look for
ward.
For such teachers as we would
have in our schools what may be con-
sidered adequate pay? The answer
Is very easy and short Such pay as
may be necessary to get and keep
them. In a conference Of leaders OF
nat onal civic and patriotic societies
which met recently at my request
in Washington 10 was agreed that to
be considered adequate the wages OF
teachers should be as much as men
and women OF equal native ability, |
education, spec al preparation, and
experience receive for other work re-
quiring as much time, energy, and
devotion and involving approximately
as muc responsibility.
Just how much this will mean in
dollars and cents in any community
do not know To determine the
amount in any State, city, or country
district will require a careful and
comprehensive study. But 1t can
quite easily be arrived at apprOXim-
MA'ANf W A'nENf ANA AAtR NANAAN+a
large.
Average Salary Should BE $1,000
The average wealth production OF
the adult worker Of the United States
Is not far from 81 $50 a year-prob-
ably somewhat more. The average
for mon and women of ability. prep
lration. and inluslry Of such teachers
as We are talk ng about can not be
less than $1,000; il is probably near
er three or four or ilve thousand
dollars. But in view OF this fact
that teaching is by its very nature an
altruislic call ng. and also because IL
may reasonably be supposed that the
purchasing power of the dollar will
Increase considerably within the next
few years and The cost OF living as
measured In dollars relatively de-
crease. let US agree on $1,000 as an
average salary for teachers I'm the
elementary and secondary schools Of
| the United states. This is three
times as much as the average for the
year i9i7-iS and more than 100 per
cent above the average for the year
/ iW9-20.
/ II The pay to beginners is so fixed
That The average for all teachers in
| the first year in urban and rural
elementary schools and high schools
Is 81 POO. this will allow other sala-
rles OF 50 500. $1,000 $500, and $1,000
Salaries OF 5000 or more may. be
held out as rare prizes FOR those
who have gained experience and have
proven their worth and who are will
Ing and able 10 pay the price Of sucl
great and fine service as is recognized
by unusual rewards in other profess
sions.
The Money Can BE Raised
Can We pay such salaries? With
such proper and useful economies. as
may be easily brought about, includ-
ing cOnsOl datiOn OF small rural
schools and the adoption OF we'll
arranged work-siudy-play plan in
the city schools, the total number OF
teachers in the public elementary and
secondary schools OF the United
states need not exceed loOOOO within
the next or 10 years. At an ever
age wage Of $1,000, 70 Will take a
billion and half dollars to pay
10000 teachers. Increase thS by %
per cent-a liberal amount-to pay
for administration, supervision,
bu ldngs. equipment and supplies
and we have a total Of two and a
quarter hillions-a quarter or bill
lion short Of Spaulding's two and q
half billions and only Si40OO,OOt
more than the amount the Depart
ment Of Labor reports that we paid
last year for tobacco in Is various
forms Our mart In the World War
IN which We fought for freedom and
democracy. cost us not less than
nfty billions OF dollars all told Al
= ncr cent The annual interest on
/ This amount is two and a half b i
/, lion dollars. Without education there
can be neither freedom nor democ-
racy. Unless we educate all the
, people in such way as 10 enable them
10 possess these in fullest measure
/ we shall have spent our money for
. naught and the men who sleep in
France and Belgium shall have died
{ =" can we pay the debt and pay in
Hkf proportion for oducation2 tn,
\ answer is we can not we'll do the on,
d without the other our power q
I produce and 10 rav will and must de
- pend on thc health. knowledge, SIX II
purpose. and will Of the people; tha
; is. on their education
How can We AFFORD 10 pay for edu'
: catong Since education is a factor
Which cannot be eliminated from th,
, Wealih-prOducing power Of The peO
! nle and since all wealth depends on
education, We can as people anorC
I Ito increase our appropriations fol
I education until the Increase In cos
! becomes greater than The increase il
the productive power which come.
through education. No people havl
ever Vet found the limit
] MIL the people pay? The wealth
7 Is theirs, the children are theirs, tn
, schools are their agents, owned an,
I surporied by them for The education
D of their children and for the at
E Ia nment OF all that This means anl
\ a.. FHu Nhafw