New-York tribune., 1920-11-26
What Ais the Schools
Stagnotion. Lack Of Opportunity and
insufficient Pan
To the Editor of The Tribune.


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial inquiry, what
Ais the Schools ." may easily be an
sweled by those who really know why
the schools are in such deplorable
state. Ninety per cent of the teachers
are able to answer your query, and
they can give yon the remedy FOR the
present unsatisfactory condition in
the public schools. Ask them. What
does Henry Ford do for his en-
ployees? What does the National Cash
Register Company DO for is workers!
What does nearly every successful
firm do? And what IS done for the
teachers and for the pupils IN our
schools? A comparison Of treatment
viii show you what ails the schools
The writer now reads The Tribune
instead OF certain other city news
paper because Of its attitude on mat
ters educational Does Dr. Finey's
connection with that paper indicate
change in its attitude toward publ,
school education? Let us hope SO
Presumably, DR.. Finley resigned from
the State Department of Education be-
cause of a greater opportunity and
It's accompanying financial reward as
an associate editor of a great news
paper He is an able man. the finest
type Of personality The press is to
be congratulated upon securing the
services OF one of our schools very
finest men. And the schools lose. His
RESIGNATION again emphasizes the fact
that many Of the best men are leav-
ing the profession Of teaching
II those at the top Of the profession
cannot realize their ambition, what
must be the reward at the bottom
What must be the opportunity offered
the elementary 4nl the h.gh school
class teacher Dr. Wolfson left the
High School Of Commerce and about
twenty Of his teachers have also re-
signed during the last few years.
There is d reason for these resigna-
tions. The recent increase in salaries
has been insufficient to keep al Of
the best men in the schools. That
condition can be remedied just as Ford
keeps his workers happy
What Ais the Schools ," Let The
Tribune ask any teacher who has lived
through ten years in the classroom
Particularly ask the married teacher
with family to educate just why ne
is dissatisfied There are good reasons
why the normal schools are training
fewer prospective teachers, why the
education Of our public school gratu-
ates is not satisfactory to business
men. Some Of them are. Inadequate
salaries, deadened morale due TO sact-
less official control. the promotion
system, that IS vicious and unfair bOtn
to teachers and pupils, and promo
ton system that defeats the very pur-
pose for which it was installed.
Teachers and pupils should love
their work; they should be contented'
their surroundings should be pleasant
they should have confidence in their
superiors; their work should be ap-
preciated In view Of the attitude o.
the public which is frequently reflected
in the press-in some newspapers SCI.
dom do W. see any school items a. al
any one who studies the question
can easily persuade himself that the
lot Of the ambitious teacher IS ex'
actly what caused Dr. Finley and DF'
Wolfson to resign. Would the edi'0r
care to be teacher IN these eH-
cumstances?
What ais the schools? Stagnatioh'
lack OF opportunity insufficient pay
especially for married teaehers-snes0
and many other things all the schools
What are you going to do aboat 'as
schools OBSERVER
New York, Nov. %, 1920.