The Washington times., 1920-01-12
Underpaid
Teachers
BY DR.. VIM. A. McKeever,
Profcssor In the University of
Kansas and an Authority
ON Child Training.
\ NATIONWIDE survey o. tar

~ field shows that the recent
sttempt to relieve tie eco
nomic distress of the school teacher
has made but little headway e-1cept
in isolated cases. The chief stupl-
bling block here is inelastic statute
limitations as to taxation. What
was once an adequate tax rate AK
imum is now far below the need.
This matter is one of deep con-
Germ for every parent in America
With 5000 600 OF our adult popula-
tion still illiterate. with 1000, ,00O
children under teachers less thar
twenty-onc years of age; with our
normal schools poorly endowed ami
able to turn out only about one
sixth as many graduates annually
as are needed to fill the teacher
vacancies; with droves of fourteen
year-olds breaking away from
school and hurrying off TO n high.
wage, but "blind-alley" employ
ment with the wages of teacher
still two points below hod carriers
and six points below black ksmiths
with all this adversely becloudng
the horoscope of the common Amer
lean boy and girl the is little tu
cheer the ordinary parent.
However, all this is not so much
matter of pity or injustice in re-
spect TO the teacher. The school
ma'am is not going to starve or
even go hungry. She is going to
quit, is quitting now. The weight
of the wrong here falls upon tho
child. II is a blow at the integrity
of the entire growing generation
and the future of the nation. Ra->.
business sense applied to the pros
lem of quick relief is what we
need here. Two methods suggcnt
themselves---
First, let tho national and STAT
governments, through their legiss
lative assemblies, appropriate an
educational fund together equallur
one.third of the present teachers
salary budget. These bodies have
long been accustomed TO making
appropriations for their higher In
stitutions, so there is no new prin-
ciple involved here.
Second let there be established
at the office of every county and
every city superintendent a bureau
for placing teachers in profitable
employment during the summer as
agents, clerks, mapagers, stenog-
raphers and 80 on. One grammar
school teacher who commends this
idea has just reported: 81 do no;
go begging or loafing during the
summer season. have learned
TO clear from third TO a half OF
a years salary canvasslng. This
work is rest enough and IL is good
recreation after teaching. BY get
ting out among the people for three
months n teacher can learn NOR,
about human nature and more prac.
teal things about the management
of children than she could acquire
in n summer school. This period
of canvassing Is n combined cours,
in patron visiting, in psychology, IN
sociology and in practical business
II brings me back to the school
room with added self-confidencr
and increased ability"
Not all teachers Will desire to 20
on the road for season. but al
who feel the pinch OF the low sal
airy should drop the lazy Summer
vacation habits and get out and
hustle at something.
Teaching Is altogether too charm
ing a business to be dropped light
ly. For the normal young woman
should say that marriage and
motherhood ought TO be considered
as about the only justification for
quitting the profession. but I urge
with all seriousness that happy.
active vacation employment "
commendablo way TO add sonnet thing
both TO the purse and 20 The charm
Of teaching.