Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-01-09
TEACHERS GOING
TOOTHER BUSINESS
Present Salaries Too Low To
Take Care of Increased
Living Costs
Department Of Public Instruction
Madison, Wis. Dec. 26. 1919.

our educational affairs are, so far as
the supply of teachers is concerned. in
the worst condition at this moment
that they have ever been. We have had
an imitation OF our currency, which
makes the dollar worth only about half
what it was worth in purchasing power
before the war. While some may not
be willing to admit ii, it is nevertheless
perfectly obvious that this would call
for doubling of teachers salaries plus
the natural and steady increase which
would otherwise have gone on.
Many teachers feel and Saysthey must
get out of the business for their own
protection and welfare. Many Of
these teachers feel that school officials
have taken advantage OF their lack of
business ability. In other words, they
believe they have in a sense been eX-
plotted They believe that boards last
year. knowing more about business
than the teacher knew. should not
have permitted them to engage their
services at Il salary which often does
not meet the living expenses even for
the period the school is in session. to
say nothing about the three or four
months teachers have to live during
which they have no income unless they
do some odd job to help earn Il living.
Many of them have figured out what
teachers must have in order to come
out even in June when schools close.
In one good sized city the teachers
have gone al the matter very cOnsci-
entiorsly and carefully G have the
itemized budget before me as | write).
and they find that $67.75 per month is
the minimum cost Of living. When |
state that this does not include cloth
ing. or travel. or summer expenses. or
recreation. or car fare. or summer
school. or incidentalS. it is perfectly
obvious that it falls very far short OF
meeting the absolute needs of teach
ers. When these other items arc add
ed these teachers. | am told. say that
nothing short of 500 month the year
around. or 5000. will meet the mod
est needs of the situation. One small
er city reports an estimated cost of
$113J.00 a year for living expenses for
teachers From another small city
comes an iteniZed account OF meals
for Il day The items are few and not
of an expensive kind entering into the
menu and yet it aggregates 81 40 day
or total of $3.50 Il week.
Teachers in many places, probably
most places. are becoming dissatisfied
and unhappy. and who can blame
them? They have planned to make
teaching their business. as least so long
as they earn their own living through
rendering service. They have edu-
Gated themselves TO this end and now
they find they cannot make living at
teaching. The problem with them is
what TO do next.
The great problem with the public
| is to determine whether education is
really worth while or not, in other
words. worth paying for. Teachers
can quit the business Of teaching and
go into something else. 1t ought not
TO take them long to make the trans
fer when they have once determined
upon It. | do not fancy any OF them
will find it life and death matter.
There will be few tragedies. at least
among the younger people. But who
Will take the places OF the trained
teachers. and who will be the sufferers
as the result Of no school or of inferior
teachers? There is only one answer to
the question. who will suffer-" and
that is-'"rhe children" Teachers
cannot he made in II day: at least
trained teachers cannot Where poor
salaries have caused deterioration in
the teaching body the result has been
that those who teach are much young
er. less well trained. less experienced,
: and from a poorer environment. OFTEN
it results that the teachers scarcely
know our language and are all but ig-
norant of our American ideals, our
history and methods of government.
4 Some of the smaller cities or villages
are comforting themselves by saying
that they are, paying as well as some
other places of the same size. This
will never get us anywhere. Small
places need good teachers quite as
much as large places do. In fact their
needs are greater. They should not
content themselves in taking persons
who cannot secure positions in the
larger places. Teachers tend to go to
the larger places even If they have tC
spend more.
Gentlemen. we are face to face with
q problem more grave than most peo
pie realize. This problem is vital tG
the we'll being of the rising generation
It's solution calls for large mindednesS
and far-sightedness on the part OF the
: leaders of public opinion. There is
need of craftsmanship in this connec
tion at this moment. What have you
| done? What can you do? What will
you do? ] have two suggestions tf