Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-09-24
oHI0's TEACHER, SHORTAGE
AND WHAT MUST BE DONE
To REf fEVE TT


The State Department of Public
Inustruction has definite knowledge
at this time as to what the extent
Of the teacher shortage in Ohio Isl,
in what localities it exists and why 1t
exists. The shortage of teachers IN
city schools, village schools and CEN
tralized rural schools is negligible.
Positions in these schools attract
the better qualified teachers because
of higher salaries in part, but main
ly because there is better working
equipment, broader opportunity and
more encouragement for the appli-
cation of the principles of modern
pedagogy, more chances for advance
ment, and better living conditions,
greater ease in securing room and
board.
The shortage exists in the dis
\ tricts with the one-room schools. If
a teacher can get a(position in city
village or centralized school district
she will not work in a school where
she must teach all eight grades
without proper equipment, in a build
ing that is improperly lighted, lily
ventilated and insufficiently heated
without janitor service and surround
ed by grounds that are unkept and
|, desolate. Furthermore, it is i'm.
I possible in many cases to get
{ suitable rooming and boarding place
J even at high cost. There are
, some districts where the people alb
( solutely refuse to board the teacher
/ Outside teachers consequently refrs,
/ to go into such districts and those
living in or near these districts, whit
have the natural qualities of {
teacher, refuse or neglect to prepar
: themGelves to teach, often becaus
/ they think they can work their wa.
: into these schools without prepara
1 ton and draw the same salary a
+ chose who have spent their time an,
8 money in preparation.
The situation can be relieved il
q the following manner:
! First, the one-teacher rural schoC
d must be given attention with viey
) to improvement both by boards o
q education and by those in charge o
4 the school room management. Build
4 ings must be required and remodel
. ed so that they will be sanitary an
conducive to the good health o
i teachers and pupils; there must b
IL library and other equipment pre-
;. vided; school grounds must be i'm
= proved as to size, walks and beaut
v fcation; proper ianitor service mus
\ be provided.
n The system must be readiustet
= No teacher can do work if sh
/ Is required to teach eight grade
nor will she accept such a positio
% If she can find employment els,
N where. Some plan of classifcatio
,e must be devised and permitted otht
m than the prevalent overlooking {
v teachers who must teach all tn
n elementary subjects and all the ell
e. mentary grades.
N Secondly, the teacher must haS
ir a home with the comforts and col
[e veniences Of modern life and one tn.
Mt affords her privacy to plan and pr
IN pare her work. She must be able
n secure these things at a reasonab
n- cost.
es Thirdly, young people who resi-
IS in the community or in close prox
We nifty thereto must be induced
ne enter the profession and to prepal
" themselves for the work it entail
ne They must not refuse or neglect
er obtain the necessary training and e
r. pect to slip in at the last minute
" ten expense of the children of the dl
Is trict. = Z
e; A shortage of teachers in the
ne localities will continue to exist uni
t. conditions as to school work, hon
life, and salaries are improved suf
d. GENTLY to- attract outside teacher
us or until the young people of the
communities acquire enough
terest in their school as a commur
Vt ty institution to obtain the trainil
r. necessary to meet the Requirement
IS of law and to do the work of
on teacher in such way. as meets {
,l- needs Of the boys and girls of the
D., neighborhood and as to give the
We advantages for education equal
e. those afforded in other communiti
VS. The hope for such districts lies
lc- concerted efforts to better the or
room school and to rid it of ma