Evening star., 1920-03-14
TEACHERS CALLED
REAL BENEFACTORS
Dr.. w. A. Nelson Tells Smith
/ College Club of Their
! "Contribution."

It Is the teachers and not the mer
bf great wealth who have been the
real bcnefactors of education in the
United States. according to DR.. Will
lam Allen Nelson. president of Smith
college. Northampton. Mass. who ad-
Dressed large meeting held yester-
Nay afternoon at the residence of Mrs
Bneckinridge Long under the auspices
pf the Smith College Club of Wash
lnyton and arranged in 'furtherance
Pf tho national campaign to add $4.-
P00. 600 to the endowment fund OF this
Eomeh's college.
Teachers in recent years. by the
eonti1uance of the performance OF
(heir Services on salaries that are fast
tnrning into pittances. have been lit
tralIy making annual contributions to
khe cause of education amounting to
n average of several hundred dollars
Yearly. DR.. Nelson pointed out.
The suggestion is often made" "
ka Id DR. Nelson to the large and dis
great music room in the Long resi-
dcnce,r that the endowed college, of
hich, Smith is representative ex-
mp1e, gain adequate working capital
through the raising of tuition fees.
nd that this is an easy way out of
he difficulty. We feel that we owe
ou an explanation as to why this is
tH done. The wide variety, as re-
kardS geography. culture. wealth and
he consequent point of view that OBJ
aims in the student body of such a
follege is one of its greatest assets.
We're the fees raised this would re-
built in the exclusion of large num-
bcr of girls. and the narrowing proc
Fss would not affect quantity as much
ls quality.
Would Lose Desirable Persons.
The college would lose a dispro-
Portionate number Of the kind of per-
les to be best able to acquire the
bllity to run the country-namely.
he children Of professional men"
President Nelson emphasized the
act that there are now about 10000
american schools without teachers.
nd that the average tenure of an of
Ice of a teacher in Massachusetts.
or instance, is three years. With this
a pid turnover anything affecting the
upply of teachers is quickly felt. and
wing to poor pay only about half the
umber of women are training to be-
ew years since. Let that go on for
bout three years. and the result is
obvious" he said. IF the colleges are
tarved, the supply is cut off at its
ource, just at time when education
s the greatest remedy and safety de-
ice possible for the troubles that be-
yet us. England and France, with all
heir war burdens and reconstruction
Problems, have considered one Of their
oremost duties to be the increase
y legislative action to an adequate
POINT Of the pay of their teachers and
Professors. In the United States we
lavo committees like yours here, de-
nd otr tni~ h~s
(erves in the prosecution of financial
ampaignS on behalf Of privately en-
lowed colleges and universities. Do
ou care or not? The next five years
Fin tell"
81ueation Highly Fashionable.
President Nelson's address was pre-
eeded by a brief talk by Josephine
Podge Daskam Bacon. the author, a
|mith graduate. who came to Wash
nsten specially for the occasion, and
tho. in amusing lighter vein, but with
erious underlying purpose. advanced
he contention that culture, wealth
ND education invariably go together.
Sducation is not a thing pertaining
poverty. she declared, or even to
he so-called middle classes" but is
ighly fashionable. The first genera
ION OF nouveau riches" for instance
me pointed out. go in strongly for
diamonds. clothes and other evidences
sudden afiuence. But for the Sec
mo and subsequent generations, to
lave What they lacked, they almost
nvariahly found colleges, libraries.
eosDatals and schools of music, etc.
No desire to participate in and ad-
ance the cause OF education is an
lmost certain sequel and even con-
omitant Of increased afluence, in
rease0 culture and increased social
prestige. The aristocracy of a coun-
~ - generally the most highly edu-
aeed element in it's population.
hotn speakers were introduced by
emes K Angel. dean of the College
no chairman of the national research
eouncil. 81 vi
Commends Relief init.
The work of the Smith relief unit
nat served overseas was highly com
nenoed in letter read from Nine.
usserand. wife of the French am
oassador, who was unable to attend.
She congratulated the organizat tion on
ts receipt of the Medaille de Recon-
alseance francaise, and said she
conddered that Ito have belonged to
would be an honor all ones life. i"
She expressed the personal gratitude
bdth OF herself and Of M Jusserand
Or the work done in France by the
bnit- Following the meeting refresh
nents were served. In the receiving
lne were Mrs.. Long, Miss Mary Colean n
president, and Mrs. H. G. Nichols
Pecretary of the Smith College Club
Ind DR.. Nelson. The list of patron
esses for the occasion was a distin-
kufshed one.
The four-million-dollar fund, ex-
pected to be in hand before next COM
nencement. is to be used to increa Sc
he salaries of the members Of the
aculty. now greatly underpaid, and
10 increase suitable living accommo-
1ations for the steadily increasing
tudent body, more than half of whom
how have to live off the campus away
from college influences.
A portion of the income from the
Contemplated new dormitories will
also be used to help in the raising of
The professional salaries