The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-13

N. Y.EDUCATORS
STATE NEED FOR
NEW BUREAU
New Cabinet Department
Wanted to Combat
Growing Illiteracy.

Wo11SS0 20 N0U1OoI
Growing Illiteracy.
New York. Sept. 1s.-(Unitsd
Press) Creation Of : department
Of education in the presidents cab
met ID essential to the co-ordina-
tion Of state and municipal efforts
In combating the growing menace
Of illiteracy in the United States,
in the opinion Of New York educa-
tors.
The school problem has become
80 serious It 10 national rather than
local, E. "A. Niffinecker. director Of
research and statistics. said in IN
interview today.
States and cities are now largely
working out their own solutions a
the educational problems, NiffE
necker pointed out This work
could be increased immeasurably in
efficiency through federal cooper
alton. he said. He also advocated
extension Of government subsidies
which recently have been put into
effect.
For several years the education
al problem in the United States has
been two-fold-shortaee. Of teachers
and shortage Of schoolhouses. Re-
ports collected by the United Press
today from the principal cities in
dicated the first phase was gaad-
ually being obviated through in
creasing salaries and making the
Dfession more attractive. Hous-
Rhg nparently will take years to
strait len out because Of the short
age al high costs Of labor and ma
>of11 york, with q school attend
1DO9Nof 11,949 last year, anticipat-
ed an increase of 1900 when school
opened today. OF the 81, 5,000, 900
worth of building now under con-
struction sufficient space was ex-
pected in the next 80 days to Just
take care Of the $4,000. There are
go schools here and the board OF
education has asked for an apptop-
ration Of $4e.s20,327.S0 for new
schools next year.
A combination Of municipal &C.
tion and legislation resulted In
raising the salaries Of New Yofk.s
teachers q maximum Of forty per
cent.
An average increase Of $500 q
year in Chicago wiped out the
shortage Of teachers there. There
was still considerable congestion
| in the schools but q huge building
program was expected to eliminate
this within q year.
Boston reported 175, portable
school buildings in use to help care
for its $4,000 scholars, an increase
of 5000 over last year. A special
commission on teachers' salaries
recently recommended increases oa
$3.50 to $500 q year. A serious
shortage in teachers was. still evi-
dent there.
San Francisco was experiencing
q shortage In teachers substitutes
The teachers had been promised ar
increase but the amount was still
undetermined. An increase Of s..
900 was noted in attendance.
The shortage Of teachers in Dem
yer was 80 great educational re
quirements have been abolished In
many instances. They received ~
increase of 500 last year but moth
ing additional this year.
| There were only 120 buildings FOL
125, 900 pupils In Cleveland. An In
crease OF Is to 30 per cent in sal
aries eliminated the teacher short
| age.
In Detroit the housing shortage
was reported near solution with ad'
dition of several buildings. Ther'
were plenty of teachers, owing Il
salary Increases.
Lack Of schoolroom space NOR
serious thsn shortage Of teachers.
Dallas reported. Salaries were In
creased 20. to 80 per cent.
Three thousand children wer'
having half day sessions in Indian
apolis because Of tho crowdet
schools. Maximum salaries wer'
increased.
Teachers' salaries were raised a
average Of $500 in st. Louis BY In
creasing the school tax. The hous
ing problem was mot serious.
/ Salaries Of elementary teacher
In st. Paul were said to be twice .
large as three years ago.
j San Antonio reported 2 prospsc
| tive shortage in both buildings Ant
, teachers. owing to an increased en-
rollment.
4 With schools already filled to ca
, pacity, Kansas City reported ut
tendance several thousand belos
normal. TruAnt omcers were busy