The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-01-29

Organization in itself is not necessar-
lily unethical. A group of teachers, l
should say, when unjustly treated by
some overbearing and INSCRIPTIONS
school board or superintendent, have
just as much right to organize and act
as a body for self-protection, as any
other class of individuals. In union
there is strength. But they should
confine themselves to obeying their
own mandates and not the mandates
of outside authority. Dean Russell,
of Teachers College, stated the case
well recently in saying, "The organi-
cation referring to teachers) should
cooperate with every other group of
citizens for the promotion of the pub
lie good, but should avoid entangling
alliances with any one" In the same
address, after paying high tribute to
the American Federation of Labor, he
said that it would be a mistake both
for that organization and for the
teachers of the country to ally them
selves together.
Teachers can legitimately go a con-
siderable distance in an endeavor to
attain desired ends, but there is a
limit beyond which they should not go.
As an organization they have as much
right, if underpaid, to work for in
creased remuneration as the physi-
clans of a community have to agree as
body to increase their fees On the
other hand, they are public servants,
and they have no more right to strike
to attain their ends, thus stopping for
the time being the educational machin-
cry of community, than the physi-
clans would have as a body to refuse
to administer to the sick Of the COM
munity.
More Remuneration Wanted.
We come now to the crisis due to in
adequate remuneration. After all,
adequate remuneration is the key to
the whole problem, for, when once
this is provided, the problems of insult
ficient preparation, of Increasing per-
centage of ineXperience, of diminish
ing supply, and even of questionable
ethics, will in large measure solve
themselves These lesser problems ex-
ist because the teaching profession as
a whole is underpaid. 1t is not only
paid less than the trades, but, in con-
trast with them, it's remuneration has
not increased in proportion to in
creased costs of living. Teachers sal
aries have been gradually increased
during the past few years until now
gross salary incomes now sound fairly
pleasant to the ear. But mere Sound"
cannot count in these times. 1t cannot
feed or clothe or travel. 1t cannot
provide for professional improvement.
In fact, the important question is not
the amount sf one'sP salary, but its
worth. 1t is the purchasing power
of the dollar that counts, and if the
teachers salary has risen % per cent
during the past few years, while the
purchasing power of the dollar has
decreased GO per cent, the teacher is
really far less prosperous than at the
beginning. And this, generally speak
ing, is the actual situation. Wages in
the trades have increased to meet the
high cost of living. Wages of all
classes of labor have increased in like
proportion. The wages of teachers,
on the other hand even tho substan-
TALLY increased in amount, have not
increased to meet the present eco
monte emergency.
And so we have one crisis inducing
others. Inadequate remuneration in
the service of teachers makes the pro-
fession unattractive, and this fact de-
creases the enrolment in our train
ing schools, forces many into other
service, drains the supply, and leads
indirectly, in some cases at least, 10
questionable practices.
Our greatest problem, therefore,
seems to me, is the problem of work
ing out in the profession a wage, or
salary if you please, that will meet
the increased costs of living, that will
assure a higher measure of comfort
and contentment, and that will give a
feeling of freedom and independence.
This great Association, thruout the
years of its honorably history has con-
sistently stood for better salaries for
teachers. 1t has been party to faith
ering and fostering every new mini
mum salary law that has ever been
enacted. 1t is still vitality interested
in this question of adequacy of re-
muneration-not simply an increased
wage, but living wage-a wage that
meets changing economic conditions.
am sure it will continue its efforts
in this direction until every teacher
of the state shall receive her material
dues as member of one of the
worlds noblest professions.
(Concluded)