Evening star., 1920-03-21
DEMOCRACY'S ONEREAL
NEGLECTED
Public School, America Greatest Institu-
tion. Suffers From Low Salaries Paid
Teachers-Every Home Affected.

interest aroused in kindergartens
through the meeting OF the Interna-
tional kindergarten Union in Balti-
more last spring the board Of educa
tion decided to open ten new kinder
gartens this year. Everything was In
readiness except the teachers. Only
recently has the board Of education
been sble to open one kindergarten.
hav1s secured a kindergarten trained
teacher. Meanwhile the children in
the other districts are waiting eagerly
for the day when they may begin
school.
In Illustration OF the way in which
teachers are being enticed to other
employment by better salaries-and
usually it is the best teachers who
are thus most in demand: A CONNER
cial teacher at $2.4o0 left to take ac-
counting work at $4,000: a dairying
teacher at s2,75o, now getting $l6.-
600: mining $4,000, now in CONNER
cial work $4,000; medicine s2,25o.
now manufacturing at $4,000: engin-
eering at $1,000. now with illuminat-
Ing company at $4,000; medicine at
$1,000. now in private business a.
$4,000: teacher of English at $1,000.
now advertising manager at $4,000:
geology at $1,000, now in oil business
at $4,000; chemist at $1,000, now in
powder plant at $500: economics at
$1,000, now with manufacturing plant
at $4,000. These are taken from a
long list OF typical cases Of teachers
in colleges and normal schools in
thirty-four states compiled by the
United States bureau OF education.
In illustration of the lowering Of
the standard of teachers: federal
QUESTIONABLE to school authorities
throughout Texas showed that IS per
cent Of the losses were the better
class Of teachers. Some Of the super
fntendents reported that they were
obliged to put in mere children as
teachers and to call back into the pro-
fession incompetent persons who had
previously been let out. In South Da-
kota the president Of the Northern
Normal School reports that some of
the advanced pupils who had planned
to return to complete their courses
had been held back by force almost
by county superintendents begging
them to take rural schools.
Attendance Falls on.
In illustration ofsa growing lack Of
training: Reports received by the
National Educational Association
from normal school presidents show
that the attendance in these teacher
training Institutions has fallen on
alarmingly. The total attendance in
seventy-eight normal and teacher
training schools in thirty-five differ
ent states for 1916 was 33,051. In
1919 the attendance in these same
schools had fallen to 26.134. The total
number of graduates from these
schools in 1916 was 1925 and in 1919
it was SPA. The total number in
the graduating class of 1920 in these
|seventy-eight schools is 7,119. These
figures show a decrease of more than
80 per cent in four years.
From 100 state. county. city and
private normal schools 11,503 fewer
pupils were reported on November /,
1919, than they had the year previous
to the war. These represent 60 per
cent of all the normal schools. SO it
is estimated by the federal educa-
tional authorities that there win be
1000 fewer trained teachers from the
normal schools in 1920. Teacher-train-
ing departments in colleges show ap-
proximately the same falling on in
those preparing to teach. although
other departments show a great in
crease in enrolment.
Steps to increase interest In teach
ing as a profession have been taken
in a number OF states and commu-
mites.
More than 1900 voters out of a
total of 1888 in Worcester. Mass.
recently signed a petition for higher
salaries for the city's teachers, and
many who didn't sign were unable to
do so on account Of the limited time.
This campaign had the support Of
business men, labor unions. civic or
eanizations. the press and numerous
other forces.
In Ohio Gov Cox issued q procla-
nation setting aside the week of
February 10 to 22 for statewide
observance OF teachers week for the
purpose Of emphasizing the fmpor-
tance Of obtaining an adequate sup
ply Of competent teachers. In Ne
yada Gov. Boyle issued q similar
proclamation. Indiana also has just
observed teachers week. when the
public had its attention focused on
teacher shortage and teachers sal
aries.
Shows Alarming Condition.
All Of this shows . very alarming
condition. What's to be done about It?
The presidents Of the misunderstanding
urge the following pro-
gram:
First-Higher salaries for trained
teachers.
Second-Higher professional stand
ards, excluding the incompetent and
Third-A more general recognition
by the public Of the Importance OF the
teaching profession.
Fourth-Afore liberal appropriations
to state normal schools and teacher
training schools in order to pay better
salaries in these institutions and fur-
nish better equipment
Fifth-Extending the courses and
raising the standards in the teacher
schools.