Evening journal., 1920-03-15
SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHER SHORTAGE


apparent to all friends Of liberal education that inc
shortage OF school teachers is sill serious problem
Delawarcans cannot fail to realize that It Is one which
affects the educational interests OF Delaware in common
with those Of the other States.
Investigations made by the United States Bureau Of
Education show that the teacher-shortage situation.
while IN parts OF the country slightly better than
last October. when the National Education Association
made It's inquiry Is sl very grave problem. according
to reports received by the Bureau OF Education. Depart
ment OF the Interior
On February 10 the Commissioners OF Education found,
the basis Of returns from State school officers that
there 1920 schools closed because lack OF teachers
and 1890 schools taught by teachers characterized as
below standard, but taken temporarily in the mer-
gency' The largest shortages follows Kentucky,
1885, Texas 2O55; Virginia, 2OOO Georgia. 1900; North
Carolina. zoo; Iowa, 600.
sub-standard teachers reported follows Texas,
4OOO Virginia, $500; Alabama, $500; Georgia. 1900;
Tennessee 3OOO Minnesota 1880; illinois, i2Oo Kentucky
iiOO New York, 100; South Carolina, 1900
In response to the question "what provision Is made
for children in territories where schools closed2'
eighteen states report that children transferred to
other schools three States report provision, one
report requires some" two states report that the
majority Of children are losing the grade.
In response to the question, Are people moving 10
ceners populaon2 six States report that data are
at hand; five states report very ltte three states re-
port a considerable movement and four States report
none
In response to the question, ITO what extent tax
payers interesting themselves in paying better salaries
for teachcrs?' fourteen states report That the Interest
is general state reports great interest and one
state reports very large interest while another reports
that they doing their best"
significant fact in connection with the shortage Of
teachers that 1870 state county city and private normal
schools report 1853 fewer students November 1, 1919
than they had the year previous TO the war. These
schools reporting represent GO per cent Of the total nor
NAL schools and this basis, there would be shortage
49, no graduation time 1920 there will be 1000
fewer graduates from the normal schools. Teacher
training departments In colleges show approximately the
same falling Off in those preparing TO teach, although
other departments show great increase in enrolment
Another significant fact revealed says A. o. Neal
Of The bureaus division Of rural education, in comment
lne upon the situation "Snco 1890 there has been CON
tnuous and Increasing withdrawal Of men teachers from
the profession The percentage Of men teachers in 1880
was 81 per cent In 1910 1t had fallen to p per cent and
in 1918 to Il per In other words in 1890 one teacher
in three was a man; in 1910 teacher in five, and IN
1915 teacher in six was a man.
Tc question Of teachers salaries is vital in this dis
cusson and comparison Of teachers salaries from 1916
90 1918 the latest complete statistics available shows lat
in the two years from 1916 TO 1915 the teachers
salary advanced from 1868 per year sG35 per year.
increase OF s2 3 per cent in the two years The tota
figures for 1918 show that the salary for eie-
menlary teachers the United States was sCOG and the
average salary for high school teachers sLO3i The bu
reau is collecting salary schedules from various
states giving the actual salaries received by individual
teachers in three counties in each state These show That
the salaries Of teachers far below this average
in many States and that salaries low as $50 to 500
per annum are found in many localities.
another cause OF teachers Withdrawing from the pro
fesson Is found the lack Of provision made for suitable
homes in the community where the teachers may become
part OF the social organization. This is particularly
true in rural districts where in many communities they
are providing teachers homes in connection with Ihe
schools"
Those are facts and figures which Will be well Tor
those in control Of educational matters in Delaware
should take under consideration They set forth con
clsev one of the worst OF educational embarass-
ments, and Indicate The things that should DE done to
cure them