Evening journal., 1920-10-09
adequate Pay For Teachers


the National Education Assoqiation.l
(Abridgedl
Department Of the Interior, Bureau
Of Educat on, Washington.
Ieachers worthy of places in Tho
schools In which American children
are prepared for life. for making a
iiMN.ns, Tor the duties and responsib-
illtlee OF democratic citizenship. and
ior eternal dest ny can never be
fully, paid In money. Men and women
worthy OF this highest OF all call
lgs VIII not think first OF pay in
money or In any other form. For
teachers, as for all other workers,
husk ms saying holds: III they think
ihsl iitsl OF pay and only second Of work,
lhey are servants Of him who is
the lord Of pay, the most unrrect
ilend that fell. II they think first Of
the work and its results and only
second OF their pay, however i'm
portant mat may be, then they are
servants OF Him who is the Lord OF
work. Then they belong 10 the great
guild or workers and bu ldcrs and
savlors OF the world together with
Him for whom TO do the win OF Him
that sent Him and finish His work
was both meat and drink"
Workers Paid Largely in Kind
1t has ever been and probably must
always be that worwers of whatever
sort received the largest part of their
pay In kind. as millers take toll OF
The grist they gr nd Those that
work with material things that have
easily measured cash values are most
easily meeured in money. other re-
wards VIII be less IN proport on and
| In importance. Those who work
largely for other than the material
results that can be measured by
money must continue TO be content
10 receive a large part Of their pay
In the cOnSc BUSINESS of work well
done for a worthy cause, and In
participation. by faith at least. In
The results, both near and far away
In time and in space
The Teachers Spiritual Rewards
Teachers who do their work we'll
and who, either in fact or by faith,
see the world made better as a re-
suit individuals made healthier,
wiser, happier; sin and suffering
made less, The common wealth made
more; social purity and cive. right
eousncss increased public laws made
more just. patriotism hroadened and
purified; State and Nation made
stronger and safer against attack
| from without and decay from within
and the world fted on TO a higher
plane and into a brighter sunshine
and a purcr atmosphere. are possess
ed Of wealth unseen and for most un-
seeable
All true teachers will think Of
| these things and many OF the best
will be attracted to and held In the
profession by them. 10 VIII be all
/ The worse for the profession and the
world when II is not so.
But this should not he made an
excuse for putting public or private
education on q charity basis. nor for
paying teachers the miserably low
wages they are now paid. II should
moi be- made an excuse for paying
such wages as will not permit school
boards and superiniendents to iN
reasonable min mum standards oil
qualifications for teachers becaus,
Young men and women who expect
io teach cannot afford TO incur the
expenses necessary TO prepare them,
selves 10 meet the requirements ol
such standards. II should not Dt
made an excuse for failing 10 IN
crease the pay OF teachers, as IN!
nav i'm other profess ons is increased
in recognition OF proved merit ant
in proportion to increasing ability
gained through experience contained
siudv. and constant devotion 10 duty
Improved Salaries Bcneht the Schooi
and the Nation
Not for the sake OF the teacher
pr marily, but that the schools ma
be made fully efficient: that chlldre
may he we'll taught. that The maieria
wealth Of State and Nation may b
T increased so that we may have IN
means OF paying our debts. buildin
. our highways, car ng for our unfort
r unaies, and meeting other public oX
penses and at the same time hT
enough for all the people TO live II
( comfort: that our democracy may b.
preserved. purified. and made NOR
effective: That scicntonc discovery
useful invention, and artistic express
sion may be promoted that we ma
: act we'll our part in the common
wealth OF the world, we must pa
such salaries as will bring into IN
schools as teachers men and wome
OF the best native ability, men ant
women strong and we'll organize
physically. mentally. and spiritually
r men and women Of The finest cul
iure and the most thorough and com
J prchensive education, academic an
- professional and so adjust the
, salaries as to enable them 10 hold "a
' those who show themselves mos
capable and best fitted for the worl
g In this Most important OF all on
enterprises we can not afford
, pay less
Il Many Able Men Have Taught
Our trad tional policy Of paying :
lyoung and Inexperienced men an
r women with little or no question a
10 their professional preparatiO
salaries almost as large as we pay I
those who have had many years
Il successful experience had at least on
4 merit. II brought into the sch00
large numbers of young men and W,
II men OF unusual native ability an
IS OF strong character and sometim,
n such men and women having ais
" good sch 0larsh p and fine cullur
n willing and eager 10 do the best the
- could while saving from their con
paratlVely good WAGES money 10 sta
s them IN business or home making
90 enable them 10 prepare themselvl
for those demands. Many OF q
ahlest men and women In an wall
X OF life have been school teachers,
n good-sized eN-teachers' assoc attic
could be formed Of members OF an
recent Congress OF the United state
We have lust nominated two e.
teachers as candidates for the Pres
ldency. Unfortunately, however. mo
s OF these have remained as teache
in the schools only TN they had b
gun TO gain some title comprehel
sion OF their task and some liil
4 skill in executing 70. But despi
, Their lack Of preparation and exp
= rience it was good for boys and gir
2 10 come in contact with them. Fro
this contact many gained lnspiratC
and purpose
Other Occupations Pay Better