The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-19
For the Good of
 the Community

 | person for twelve months no one willcontend in these days of high prices.
 Yet a large number of the teachers in the public schools of Birmingham are compelled to exist on that pitifully small sum- It is just S65 month
 Single rooms scantily furnished and with few or no conveniences, rent at a minimum of SEQ month where only one person occupies them. Meals at the best boarding houses are from $25 to S30 month for breakfast and o'clock dinner. The boarder must buy his or her lunch elsewhere. An average of $35 month for meals is rather under than above that which person must pay in Birmingham.
 If the teacher receiving S65 month pays S2O for room and $35 for meals, he or she has only S1O left for all other purposes, clothes included That's just $120 a year, and an economical teacher might buy suit, hat, pair of shoes and a waist with that sum, but not much more.
 The highest paid teachers fin the city schools re- ceive $1, 100 year, or $9167 month. Assum- ing that the higher saaried teachers pay the same amount for meals and room that are paid by those receiving the minimum salaries, that is about S60 month they have just $31 67 left over at the end of each month
 Surely this is not adequate compensation for men and women who spend several years prepar- ing themselves for their chosen profession. It does not enable them to buy books to take special courses of training and to do the other things requisite to keep them abreast of the times and conversant with new developments and new methods of school teaching.
 Birmingham needs and wants only the best teachers. She cannot engage or retain the best unless she pays salaries sufficient to the most ordinary of their requirements.
 On May 8 special mill tax will be voted upon in the city. It is estimated that 2 mill tax will bring in about $500, ,000 year, and that with sths sum added to the revenues raised under ex- isting laws, the school board will be able to in- crease teachers salaries to minimum of not less than S1 900 year. and may be $1, 100 That is, if the 2 mill tax levy is authorized the teachers in the elementary grades now receiving $78O a year will then receive at least s1, ,OOO year aid probably $1,100
 Birmingham has ono of the best school systems in the country In the past it has been pointed to as model by number of other cities It has al- ways been progressive, ably managed and main tained on high scale.
 It will continue in the future as in the past if given adequate financial support. The public school is the one institution that should be first in the minds of the people, It is the most import ant institution in city or state and unless it is maintained on an efficient basis, the citizenship is bound to suffer-
 The electors of Birmingham are not asked to vote blndly for any proposition. Before casting their ballots they should investigate every ques- ton submitted to them and then vote only for those that have merit.
 They should investigate the special 2 mill school tax levy that is to be submitted to them on May8, and if satisfied that the schools need the money and that it will go to the schools then it Is their duty to vote it.