Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-04-25
SCHOOLSFACING
new CRISIS HERE;
$4,000 NEEDED
Salaries OF Teachers
Must Be Raised;
$62.50 Is Average

AA~ PAbAAS oNAiOOAO VI <A11S1ACuc d1O
again facing crisis. The Board of
Education has calculated that it
must have $4,000 additional this
year if the schools are to be kept on
their present level of efficiency.
Where the money is coming from
they do not know, but the public is
to be informed of the situation at
once so that solution may be work.
ed out somehow. This $4,000 re-
qulred is additional to the two mill
share of the special emergency levy
authorized last ysar by the state leg
islature.
A part of the additional funds is
required to increase the salaries of
teachers sufficiently to retain those
now employed. Another considerable
part will go to meet the greatly in
creased cost of labor, materials for
repairs, etc.
But the teacher problem is the
boards greatest problem. The state
ment was made couple of days ago
by w. W. Dykes, vice president of
the board of education, before the.
directors of the Chamber of Com
merce, that whereas three or four
years ago the board at this time of
year always had from 150 to 800
applications from teachers for con-
sideration at the May election, up
to two weeks ago only two letters
had been received and these were not
applications but inquiries as to sala-
ries paid, etc. He further stated that
the average salary paid to teachers
in the Americas schools at present is
S62.50 per month. Some are higher
and others lower. But this scale must
be materially increased, according to
Mr.. Dykes, if teachers are to be re-
tanned.
Gives School Facts.
In response to an invitation@Eo tell
The public the facts as matter of
information, Mr.. Dykes yesterday
prepared the following statement
concerning the situation confronting
the school board:
"Comnlying with vour request to
furnish the Times-Recorder state
ment of conditions in regard to the
schools at this place, ! will relate
them onlv in a general way and not
undertake to give minute details.
"Long before the unusual advance
in nrices of all commodities which
constitute the necessities of life,
teachers salaries were not only IL
diculously small but were out of pro-
portion to compensation received by
those engaged in other vocations.
"There are very few professions II
any which require more technical
training for a person to qualify him
self to follow, than that required OF
a teacher. In addition to this quite
number of teachers are frequently
taking short normal courses at their
own expense, for the purpose of
keeping themselves informed as to
the very best methods of teaching and
to give to the children the very best
advantages.
"The Board of Education has been
exceedingly fortunate in getting the
very best teachers to be had, as re-
sult of which we have had and now
have one of the best schools there
is.
Mills Fall Short.
ga wear ago the Americus schools
were provided an additional two
mills. which is only temporary ar
rangement. The Board of Education
+bonpht at the time this would raise
enough money to substantially in
crease the salaries and meet other
necessary expenses. This is the first
time in the history of the Americus
schools that additional funds have
ever been asked for. Before our
schools opened we found that prac-
+;callv all other cities in the country
had already year or two IN advance
of our schools, provided additional
school funds and consequently were
able to increase salaries more than
Americus could pay. They did not
find. however, that any place was
having teachers any more than they
/ ought to pay them.
8This committee further found af-
ter making very thorough investi-
cation that our present school fund
including the additional fund re-
ceived last year would have to be
supplemented at least Slo,oOO.o0 or
more. if we are going to maintain
the present high standard OF our
schools.
Has To Buy Supplies
"One other very important fact
should be taken into consideration
bv the public and that is, that out of
the total school fund provided, the
board has to pay for all of its sup
niles. This includes fuel in the
winter for the High school, Grammar
school, East Americus school, Brook
lvn Heights school and Mckay Hill
school. which is about the largest
item. Other items include repairs of.
all kinds on all school buildings, such
as painting, plumbing, lighting fix
tnres and other incidentals, the ma
terial~ for which is all very much
higher than a few years ago. Any