Arizona republican., 1920-02-08
FERROUS MENACE
 ! COUNTRY FACES IS POINTED OUT
Lack of Teachers and Insuf- ficient Preparation of Many of the Few, Theme of Dr. R. B. von Klein Smid

Before an appreciative audience at the Y. M- C. A., Dr. Non KleinSmid, preSident of the University of Arizona, Thursday evening delivered his fourth and final address in this years ex tension course. In his characteristical- ly forceful manner the speaker pointed to number of reasons for the threat ened 'Present-Day Crisis In Our Eidu- cation"
 He said among other things that when the country was called to arms Tor the late world war 21 per cent of the 100000 educators of the United States entered the service of their country. At the close of the war, while the banker returned to his po- sltion. the tradesman to his, and the merchant to his. the great majority Of the teachers did not-return to, their profession because they had made the discovery that their long preparation for the profession had given them a degree of intelligence that was worth money in the business world.
 Growing out of this condition comes the startling fact, he pointed out, that many public schools of our land have remained closed this year for lack of teachers. and that emergency methods have been employed in filling vacancies for many schools that were in session.
 Few at Normal Schools
 To quote figures, the speaker said that 90 per cent of all teachers were rural school teachers; that one-half of this 90 per cent were teachers who had preparation for teaching above the eighth grade; that another one-fourth of the 50 per cent had no more than two years of high school training.
 He further stated that our normal schools this year have no more than a two thirds attendance, and in that attendance very few men. Further more, about one-half of the teachers of
 
 of T years, and very small propor- tion is over p years of age.
 All this for two reasons, declared Dr. Won KleinSmid. The profession of teaching is dishonored and sighted. and secondly. teachers are underpaid beyond any class or labor or prefes- sion.
 If it be true. he insisted, that "The safety of our republic depends on the intelligence of our citizenship. then are facing a serious menace to the safety of our democracy.
 Encouragement and Pay
 There remains but one thing for the American people to do, said the speak CT. The lending of encoura cement to the best and most sacrificing people of our a ge. the school teachers, in giv- ing due respect and honor to the teacher into whose care and Keeping we entrust our boys and girls-body mind and soul-and paying her a sal ary that will enable her to live in comfort and without worry with re- gard to what she shall wear and what she shall eat.
 There is an occasional superintend- ent of schools who owns his home; an occasional principal who some day hopes to crank his own Ford; and there are a few school ma'ams who are looking forward to the time when they need not clerk in the store or sell books during the summer vaca tion."
 ITO be fully appreciative.' said one auditor at the close, the address should have been heard by the many fathers and mothers of Phoenix who are vitally interested in the education of their children and who believe in our public school system