The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-06-18
TEACHERS STANDARD
MUST NOT BE LOWERED

racing the people or ONO today; ade-
quate revenues, increased salaries
better buildings and equipment, more
attention to health, rooming facilities
for teachers, community use of the
school plant, modern textbooks, school
curriculums of greater general SER
vice, sane supervision, the develop
ment of new teachers-these problems
face teachers, patrons, principals,
superintendents, board members, in
fact, all the people need to be deeply
concerned about their schools just
now, says d. w. Pearce, county school
superintendent and, he continues,
"No one will doubt the need of more
revenue when the following is noted.
This is the salary record Of one of
Medina County's successful teachers.
Please note the salary for ten years,
$50, 1920, ,$320, 1920, 1920, $40O, $440,
$500, $3.50, $640, another for eight
years, $500 $500, $3.50, $3.50, $3.50,
$540, $540, $500. These are not select
ed to show the bad side. They are
typical of large numbers observed in
connection with the retirement fund.
let one record for about twenty-five
years pass before thought of publish
ing it. A teacher worked the larger
portion Of this in one township of the
county and what an outlay of energy,
interest and painstaking care for so
little reward. The debt will never
be paid. Teachers are now aware of
the status of affairs. Many are re-
firing and the ones most needed and
most useful. There is also a retire
ment at the other end, those who might
become capable teachers are not con-
sidering the teaching proposition at
all. So far but three have responded
to the call for normal school to be he
established at Medina. A school can
be no better than the teacher and the
community. Some Of our schools are
not as good as they should be and
could be. All possible care should be
exercised in selecting teachers. Some
feel if the standards set by a state are
lowered then we can have teachers.
Then we get those who never thought
seriously of entering the profession at
all. The reason some of the central
lied schools of our county are not bet
ter is that the standard of qualifica-
ton for such schools remains entirely
too low. 1t is not unusual now for a
mere beginner with the least possible
training permitted to aspire to posi-
ton which ought not be thought of un-
til some ability and special skill have
been demonstrated.
"Opr summer schools should be
crowded to the top this summer. Real
teachers by hook or crook manage to
meet conditions. Teachers are too Of
ten satisfied with a low degree Of sue
cess or slse feel almost at the outset
that they are about as good teachers
as may be found. Improvement should
be sought for. Teaching is science.
To grow properly the teacher should
be real wide awake student. Prob
lens in connection with their work
should be OWNED and solutions sought.
Our schools should offer the best pos
sible opportunities to all the children
of Medina County. In some cases the
dollar and nothing else stands in the
way. When a real educational need
presents itself, it is very easy for some
people to think deeply and emotion
ally about the merely material mani
mate metal and while thus entranced
or overcome to forget the real pulsa-
ting individual life of human children
who have if they ever have education
al advantages, must have them at the
outset of life. One only has to con-
trast the homes and other improve
ments of some communities to see how
little thought is given some matters
of greatest Importance to local COM
munity and state as well.
"No extravaganza is advocated but
the strfctest economy in the long run
demands that we now decide to invest
more than ever before in the youth of
the county. Before long the duty of
voting extra funds for school purposes
will be up in most of our school dis
tricts. Every one should vote right
and to vote right one should be in
formed. The schools must run, the
people want them to run, the people
are able to have them run, and they
will have them rum"