The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-02-18
STATE BOARD
0FED ] i
LOOKING into
TEACHERSPAY
Shortage in Minnesota Presents
Problem That Cannot
Be Avoided
CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL
BOARDS is SUGGESTED
Investigating Committee Will
Report at Annual Meeting
of Superintendent
CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL
BOARDS IS SUGGESTED

Commissioner of Education j. M:
Mcconnell, of the department OF
education of the state of Minnesota,
has sent to each of the county super
intendents of schools number OF
circular letters to be mailed to the
members of the various school boards
. throughout each county. These let
tiers ten of the plans which are being
made to hold a convention soon to
formulate further plans to meet the
present situation and determine the
best solution for it. Lack Of well
trained teachers is very evident and
something must be done at once
to regulate the living conditions of
the teaching force, as well as to plan
on an increase of salary.
Details of Plans.
An inquiry made some two months
ago by the department Of education
showed more than 300 school rooms
or departments closed because no
teachers could be obtained. It also
showed more than 800 teachers en-
ployed in positions for which they do
not possess full qualification, accord
ing to standards set up before the
war. It showed further that while in
the year 1867, the state normal
schools graduated more than $50 stu
dents and the high school training
departments almost 1850, the same
institutions will this year graduate
less than 600 and 1000 respectfully.
Nor is the showing for high school
teachers much better. While colleges
and universities are overfiowing with
students, the schools which train
teachers have not regained their pre-
war enrolment. This means that
Young men and women are not now
preparing to teach. Furthermore, be-
sides those who left the work during
the war, relatively few of whom have
returned, we are steadily losing to
other more attractive fields our best
superintendents and teachers. The
conviction is widespread and well
founded, not only that teaching does
not pay, but that it does not furnish
living.
The problem presented is one that
cannot be avoided by those who are
burdened with the responsibility for
administering our schools. The edu-
cation of the children of the state is
at stake at time when the need of
education was never more apparent.
1t is our business to see that the
best minds and the best personalities
teach the children of Minnesota.
Question of Salary.
The question seems to be mainly
one of salary, and that we may
know exactly what the situation is,
and SO far as it is possible determine
the best solution of the problem, the
state board Of education suggests
conference of all the school boards
in Minnesota to consider definitely
the question of teachers salaries.
Since a committee appointed by
the Minnesota Educational associa-
ton is now investigating the question
throughout the state, and will report
at the annual meeting of superin-
tendents, held in Minneapolis, March
81 to April 2, it would seem best
that the conference be deferred until
this report is in. 1t may be possible
to hold the conference during the
closing days of the superintendent
meeting.
1t is hoped that the boards through
out the state in all grades of schools
will realize the seriousness of the sit
uation and will see that they are rep
resented at this conference.
The following resolution was adopt
ed by the state board of education at
a meeting held January 26, 1920:
That school boards and superin-
tendents throughout the state be mott
fed that it will be the policy of the
department of education for the
school year 192O-21 to adhere to the
requirements for teacher certification
and standards set forth in the printed
rules of the state board of education;
that renewals of permits now in force
to persons not fully qualified will be
granted only on evidence of satisfac-
tory teaching and continued profess
sional progress by attendance at
summer sessions of the state normal
schools or college of education; that
such permits will not be granted to
new applicants except on request of
school boards who are able to show
to the satisfaction of the department
of education that they have made
every effort to secure fully qualified
teachers and have offered reasonable
salaries for the same, and when the
department finds that qualified teach
ers are not available for such posi-
tions.
y5GF4
T. Cautious Clara.