New-York tribune., 1920-04-15

indiana also has just observed teachers
week, when the public had its attention
focused on teacher shortage and teach
ers' salaries.
In an effort to formulate immediate
measures to meet the critical shortage
John H. Finley, State Commissiorsr ~
Education Of New York, called an in
terstate conference at the Chamber Of
commerce. to which the United States
Commissioner of Education and the
state commissioners of education OF
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont.
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsyl,
vanla, West Virginia and Michigan
were invited.
The teacher shortage in New York is
SO So acute that citizens committee of
Ivo mas been organized at the invita-
tion Of the Public Education Associa-
oren. Its purpose is to get for the
teachers sufficient pay to enable them
10 remain and to attract new teachers
to fill the vacancies.
according to William L. Ettinger,
Superintendent of New York CIV
Schools, more than 223,oo0 children n
were turned out Of the schools between
January 20 and February II, 1920. and
about 10000 were sent home the week
OF March to 19 because of the teacher
shortage Doubling classes breaks
down the teaching force, and children
are sent homo when they lack teachers.
tenn.
Support was recommended of DR.
flnley's measure to give 40 per cent
increase to all receiving less than
$4,000 annually, 80 per cent moro ~
those receiving $4,000 or less. and 20
per cent to those receiving more.
August Thomas, Commissioner Of
Education of Maine, said that between
100 and 200 schools in that tate are
closed because Of the shortage, and
there is little hope of recruiting
system in September. Nearly 200 of
the teachers have had no training
whatever. and practically 1,7o0 arc
inexperienced. About 80 per cent of
the men have left.
Maine has had exceptionally low sal
aries-$1287 weekly in rural schools
and about SIT week in cities. The
wage schedule is advancing from 5000
to $1,000 for elementary teachers and
from $1,000 to $4,000 for high schools
Calvin N. Kendall, Commissioner of
Education in New Jersey, said that al
though no schools were closed in his
state, from 200 to 800 out of $4,000
were in the hands of inadequately
trained teachers. A readjdstment Of
salaries rather than an increase was
needed The schools were competing
with industries, and they must offer
moro attractive conditions if they
would attract capable teachers. Bust
ness firms treat employees more hu-
namely than do school boards, and
there must be a readjustment of meth
DDS to compete with the former. Con-
solidation of rural one-room schools
was needed TO offer sufficient induce
ment now.
All these reports snow q very alarm
ing condition. What is to be done
about it? The presidents of the
teacher-training institutions urge the
following program:
First-Higher salaries for trained
teachers.
Second Higher professional stand
ards, excluding the incompetent and
unprepared.
Third-A more general recognition
by the public of the Importance of the
teaching profession.
Fourth-More liberal appropriations
TO state normal schools and teacher
training schools in order to pay better
salaries in .hese institutions and fur
nish better equipment.
Fifth-Extending the course and
raising the standards in the teacher
training schools.
The American Federation of Teach
ers is working energetically and pa
triotically to organize the teachers so
they, like other professional people,
may solve their own social and eco
nomic problems through the golden
rule of mutual and self help. Trade
unionists throughout the land ARE
gladly cooperating with them to this
inaii ii analysis it is the only H' rational It. nal
way out for the educational salvation
of their children and their fellow citi-
,ens' children