The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-21
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Memphis has had some trouble with her public schools The
war aeentuated the cost OF living and school teachers like other
ssaed people found themselves under enormously greater
pense and with increase in income they could their
expenses satisfactorily and were dissatisfied Mechanics de-
mand increased pay quit the job they and another
one where adequate wages waiting Not with school
teachers and other saaed people they specialists and cannot
poed not by the day the week but for long terms covering
year with prospects for several years employment They
in fixed and permanent To be fully efficient they
should be contened and reasonably compensated.
Memphis not singular or exceptional in this respect The
trouble unhappy general According to Mr. Franklin X Lane
secretary OF the Interior $4,000 school teachers resigned their
positions last year and had to seek other OF earning ve
hood This great hardship these people They had to
begin life again and learn how perform and to them
strange duties This small task in these days Of specaiza
ton The significance Of these designations not in the number
OF the number of school teachers employed in this country $4,000
is only small percentage but does include hosea larger
numbewho dissatisfied and made to feel that they work
ing under duss They cannot take the plunge They cannot
seek relief in change for another and they
main under conditions and in mental attitudes that lessen they
do not destroy their efficiency.
II the interest of the teachers alone concerned might
with better grace ignore the claims of this small minority of the
population but Injuries the public school system and the chill
dren Of the country who look to the public schools for education
and development The public school additionally the basis Of
citizenship It's the real melting pot Here assemble the children
native foreign born and whose parents either native for
egn born and here in addition the three RS they learn Amer
and American ideals What also equally great they
learn each other and how mnge and get along together peace
ably and harmoniousy These are the little citizens who in few
years will be fugrown citizens upon whom the fate and we'll
being the country depends They not begin learning the les
sons OF citizenship and liberation too early Respect for each
lessons that when learned make for good citizenship and happiness
For the public schools there substitute Private schools and
UNCONVENTIONAL schools do good and work and the latter
especially insl morality and spirituality into pupils But these
only for the few the classes For the children of the
the pubic school best suited and the only available
We may look upon public school teachers do upon
any other class Of labor There this great difference In deal
ing with any other class Of labor only the individuals and their
families concerned Our relations with the public school
teacher involve not only themselves but the children the country
asohe and development of citizens in the makngand
surely there nothing important to the country than good
danger of Bolshesm any other unpatriotc
destructive People everywhere should realize that the public
school system not expense imposed upon them arbitrarily
but creation OF their and necessary tool to be used
in the fashoning OF their country destiny 1t will more
undoubtedly because everything than its formerly did
but long the resultant good with the
one will complain.
Now that cheeuy spending billions for the spiritual
advancement OF alien peoples in sections Of the EARTH
should not hesitate spend little for the advancement
and welfare Of children who less than little while
must take places Unless fit them for the task they may
make failure OF it. In world of turmoil and when the
bottom rail trying to get top by brand and got by bomb
and bludgeon, it behooves us to up good citizens