Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-17
TEACHERS SALARIES ARE
DECLARED INADEQUATE
[. s. Chamber OF Commerce Com.
mittco Makes Report Public
After Study Of Situation.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1G.--The salaries.
training and experience OF public
school teachers In the United States
;tiS declared to be inadequate by
public schools. Despite recent salary
increases the committee asscrts that
the cri sis has not been passed.
These conclusions are drawn in n
summary. OF survey OF the schools
of 359 cities conducted by the com
three secretaries OF chambers or com
mercc ana thirty-thrcc super!nicn-
dents Of schools.
The thoughtful citizen needs to
ask himself" declared DR.. George w.
Strayer OF Columbia University,
chairman or the committee. IN the
Inquiry. questions like the following:
Can teachers in our community have
a comfortable place TO 1.-Two, good
food and decent clothes Tor the
amount of money which we pay them?
Are the teachers VINO work In our
schools able. on the salary paid TO
them, TO make provision against the
liabilities OF illness ana old age? DO
the teachers In our cities have sal
aries sufficient TO enable ;hem\io buy
hooks. To subscribe to magazines. 10
enjoy music. to travel. 70 continue
their professional study ana other
Wise to lead tho type OF life which
makes them the Kind OF men and
my boys and girls? Would i want
say son and daughter to 70 into
,"achinR? Is the recognitiom given
l" teachers. in terms OF salary, In
MY city snfi!clen, TO attract the
hbiest o! the young men and women
these inquiries, in view OF the findings.
:Straycr
IN isla-l4 onc-halt of the men Gle
tithtary teachers in cities with a
population OF from 5000 to 30, 600 the
isp2rt shows. received less than 1916.
~ 1870; half OF the same group
were receiving lcss than sI.2G2. an
ADVANCE OF 1915 or 80 per cent Mean
While. !, was stated. the cost of Ilv-
'nE had advanced lo4 per cent.
AMERICAN cities paid high school
PRINCIPALS an average OF $500 las,
Ssar, "hi!c elementary school pr!n-
i,paiSS received an average salary o.
l,s3'' Many of the salaries paid In
,nesc positions requiring the manage
nent OF complex organizations and
Snill.ul leadership" the repor, points
pi"Seht SecTcthry. let alone to be con-
aidcr.d adequate pay for the pr!n-
c!paL| summary OF tbs survey is
SUru by The committee Eays:
IN" survey also discioscS that the
na!nr!cs o. artisans and laborera
nE2iEhout the country are much
teachers. These low s;Aarics have re :
Su!tcd IN serious teacher shortage
throus hout the country. The demand
nr teacners y SO great tina; students
l'hVr normal schools when their
courses have been but half Completed.
an aiarminS!y large proportion OF III.
.rhchers as result are emergency.
J'achers lacking the proper training
for their work
reports from the cities OF this
sHtEey show that 50 psr cent OF the
''hchtrs In n: elementary schools of
american cities have had less than
IN and one-third years OF tralnin :,
b"yond the eighth grade. that 80 per
cent OF The junior high school teach
-
tanning beyond. and that 30 per cent
.. the senior high school teachers
nav. had less than eight and onc-huI
years.
Chambers OF commerce In every
atatc nave assumed the leadership in
conducting local campaigns 10 bring