The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-10
URGE MORE PAY
FOR TEACHERS
Inadequate Salary Causes Short.
age in Competent Teachers
in School System.
MINIMUM PAY INCREASED
Guaranty of Good Wages Only
VIII Induce Experienced
Teachers to Remain.


Washington D. c.. Oct "a crisis
hes bsen reached ip education. Only
b. increasing the salaries of the school
teachers 10 twscc that paid in 1914. or
IL. ilnum Of $1,000 year To keep
p@ce with the cost Of living. which
has ..6oat doubled in the las six
years can it be hoped TO resan teach
eIs in THE .choais to maintain the
high standard 0f education of tho
Am. caa chill sn This is the adj
mis- ~ ce,lis in Washington at
he head os the coaniry's educational
system
!. Tl.n $50 la come wnen men and
wonion sc'yo teachers Of unusual M
eve ahtiit and strength OF character
can mal-e more money in any Of. kim
dreis of occupations than they can
III teacais ana they are leaving The
schools e thuusaads. ii is said.
8r. P Ills der r. ella. ton Chief Of
the = re&u OF Education, has
seen te.a crisis apptoachius; for some
tllsa aai las been giving constant
wa.ai .n1 itsGng con.iued appeals
f3f M y fo- school teachers He
q NE : lIe.gi s-E for a minimum
ealt.y ~ s20S9 iyr school teachers
10 an Esssse.s5 few days ago the
Naiiln-l t.dacation Association. in
Wssicss 80 s.fld
ale.H egaa increases are made
IN tne 81 sGaool teachers the
90. 4o,a low ul viii be taught
Ds uti,te g-ac1 ana inexperienced
.unl t sd women Of mediocre
.l.as AMI isso While waiting for the
~ glt- when JIG required foF en-
iloStaeas IS ne minor and more COM
mon oeenpeluas; by tie loft overs of
sreA Lsns 9nd women who have failed
e. hni more attractive and remunera
ttee ess sloylpent elsewhere. but have
no failed as teachers: or by men and
women OF better native ability
stronger character more thorough
eapsu iun aad tile professional prepa
rat heh will erable them to sue
coed sech an extent that they may
be 1Lell by tise payment Of ade
auate yes to continue to serve their
coua = hgh and valuable WAY
is tcar1er4.
IS the real crisis in eduea
ton
Rave come 70 the parting of
thu w.ss Which shall we accept?
III apsltGt teachers Of the first two
claase4 We mas continue to get in
sufirteas numbers by paying salaries
relatively as large rs those paid in
19i4 To have the same relative value
and purchasing power IS salaries paid
III lals II. the present salaries and
sala ies for some Years TO come must
be aib3ToSimatciy twice as large as
lhey We're then.
@!sor scachers of the third class
end we should be satisfied with no
other we must pay salaries larger
relatively than we have raid at any
time i'm the past. and must adopt a
a>l.cg which will give such recogni-
ION o teachers of unusual ability as
Nit' hold them ia the service of the
f,hoals against the temptation of
better pay elsewhere Temporary i'm
reuse III pay Of teachers vii not be
sufficient There must be <sSch guar
anty uf good wages in the years to
eame as viii indace young men and
women Of such native ability and
character as good teachers can be
made Of TO accept teaching as a pro
esson and take the time and spend
lie money necessary 20 prepare them
elves for it, The demand for pro-
cssienal preparation and continued
. eryiee. oouplcd with inadequate pay.
ean only result in supplying the
.ehools with teachers of. small calibre.
init TO become the inspirers and
Guides and educators Of those who are
10 make in the citizenry Of the great
democratic republic, solve the prob |
ems and 40 the work of the new era.
;ach teachers ere not fit seed corn
on the new harvest to which we
should and do look forward.
''eor such teachers as we would /
aave in our schools what may be con-
idered adequate pay? The answer
very easy and short. Such pay as
nav be necessary to get cnd keep
hem In a conference of y iers of
7ational civic and patriotic societies
which met recently at my request In
Washington it was agreed that to be
considered adequate the. wages of
eachers should be as much as men
nd women Of equal native ability,
7ucation. special preparation. and ex-
4eriesace receive for other work re-
quirinS as much time. energy. and de-
rotion, and involving approximately
IS much responsibility.
.sIust how much this will mean in
dollars and cents in any community
do not know. To determine the
mount in any state, city. or country
istric viii require a careful and COM
rehensiye study. But it can quite
easily be arrived at approximately. at
oast. for the country at large.
III the pay TO beginners is so fixed
hat the average for all teachers in
ne first year in urban and rural ele-
iaentary schools and high schools is
200 this will allow other salaries
e $1,000. S3,500 and $4,000. Salaries |
II $1,000 or more may be held out
: rare prizes for those who have |
fained experience and have proven |
their worth and who are willing and
ble TO pay the price OF such great /
md fine service as is recognized bv
.a...,al ..a..l r1s in nfher. rarnfnssi.a.. :.