The Republican journal., 1920-07-08
A SCHOOL PROBLEM

A government of the people, by the
people, for the people, must have pat
riotism, education, orderly and Just adj
ministration, and industry as the corner
stones of its foundation. When these are
undermined or when they crumble the
Republic will fall. History shows that
education is not only the handspring of
progress but is also bar against re-
versal to lower type of human exist
ence. We believe all thoughtful persons
will admit that in every country where
little attention is given to education of
the so-called masses, patriotism is merely
an impulse, wise government by the
people has been failure and industry is
inert. The large number of students in
our universities, colleges and secondary
schools, and the crowded condition of our
public school rooms in almost every part
of the country, during the last year, in
dicates that the war mas greatly stimu-
lated the desire for knowledge, and this
augurs we'll for the future. There are,
mand our immediate attention. There is
scarcity of teachers. Last we ar many
of those employed had had no special
training for their work and but little ex-
perience. Some of them were employed
because no others could be provided.
Some schools were closed and many de-
teriorated. The public schools suffered
more than the colleges and universities
This was unfortunate because a large
majority of our young people pass direct
ly from the public schools into the work
of life. The Russell Sage Foundation,
which is high authority, has found that
the public schools of the entire country
show an efficiency of only So per cent,
when we take into consideration attend
ance, training, progress and other related
matters. The State which shows the best
public school results is credited with less
than 30 per cent efficiency. With 50 per
cent schools and So per cent results we
shall never be able to produce genera
ton of 100 per cent Americans
This record is discreditable to the peo-
pie of the United States, but bad as it is,
the outlook for next year portends
worse condition. DR.. Ciaxton, U. S,
Commissioner of Education, has publicly
stated that there will be a net loss of
80, 900 trained teachers in our elementary
schools for the work of 1921, and that
%, 600, one third of the "a, 600 high school
teachers of this country, intend to give
up teaching and engage IN some other
employment. DR.. Claxton has also stated
that the greatest number of new eligi6les
for high school work will not exceed
5000. The reason for this state of af-
fairs can be given in two short words
poor pay School teachers are human
beings. They need lodging, food and
clothing, and, like millions of workers in
other vocations, ambition impels them to
strive for more than a mere existence.
They see other men and women who are
paid higher wages than are paid to teach
ers, doing a work which is of far less
Importance to the welfare of the commu-
nifty or Of the nation. They cannot be
blamed for seeking to better their con-
dition, and it is indeed unfortunate for
our young people that majority of the
teachers who are doing this are our most
competent educators. it is lamentable
fact that thousands of young men and
women have engaged in teaching while
aIting for something which would, at
least, give reason to hope for the saving
of a modest COMP etence We shall never
have good educational system while so
many of our children are taught by ANA
teurs or by apprentices We shall never
have better educational system than
we have now, till, from financial view
point, teaching is recognized as being a
calling worthy of life work.