The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-12
Barometer Of Public Opinion
sinr,ing ihr Icnrhcra.


humble. which has been brought somewhat into
the ImcIRht recently by the grace " our many
friends and to- somc extent. though not ns much
as should bc by the efforts ~ lts own members
Tor the amcloration Of the teaching profession
We teachers appreciate the concern our
friends have had FOR us In the trying times oc-
casoncd by the wHrrinE economic conhiuonH
which have resulted ln the rise Of the price "t
living to point that is almost out of reach 10y
the school tcnchcr and his small salary We
have watched. and waited aud listened ana
thought much and talked some. while others
have been pleading our cause and some ot us
have thought that 1t would bo well II We should
speak a word for ourselves, so that the people
may know that are not wholly indiit'r'nt 10
conditions as they exist. and to our own inter
ests Truly We are humble and tmid. for We
have been told so often Wat our profession ~ 80
noble that We should think more Of the great
good we do than NJ the money phase OF 1t, that
we have grown to feel that 10 is beneath us to
hngElc over a mere matter Of % little increase
In our salaries. But economic stress has taken
the edge or these sentiments, and shiny suits
and thrcadbare underwear and mcaE"r meals
and living In garrots and hampcred quarters
make us feel somewhat like pig under q heavy
gate inclined to squcal
Now. good people OF Tulsa YOU want the
children to be taught high and noble principles
that viii prepare them to he honorable men
and women, patriotic citizens sensing tho re-
spousbntics that win soon fan upon their
shoulders Your sons and daughters you would
have TO be moved by generous Impulses, high
and worthy aspirations and wholesome ambi-
tions These qualities do not come Of themselves,
You expect us to thoroughly. .equip tho rising
generation through the schools, which are the
citidc of our liberties and the bulwarks OF our
free Institutions, for the cxgcnces Of Ife ana
the responsibilities OF safeguarding the nation.
the state, and the home These things do not
proceed out Of Inert blue air. They must be in
stillcd into the young plasuc minds nttIe by III
tie through the long years of their education by
the careful tutelage IN almost intnitg pains
taking. day after day, by the patient long SUIT
ferng teacher. Now the teacher can no more
pour forth continual stream OF eNalting prh-
ciples aud esthetlc bcatitudcs without the proper
conditions Of life that give rise to them, than
you can pour water from "A pitcher that has not
[ first been filled.
We cannot long breathe into the coming cu-
zen the spirit of democracy while We ourselvcs
are compelled to live in conditions that make for
! of the first law OF life Necessity for self pres
| ervHtion makes people break away from staid
! conventions and lofty sentiments. and teachtrs
| are no eSccpton. As wen tap turnip tor
/ blood as to expect them to smother their nat
! ural wants without murlnur In word. we
are expected To teach tho fundamental prin-
/ ciples that make the country safe for democ-
/ racy, but we can not do so with good grace
/ while We have to endure conditions that most
/ surely develop ciats consciousness In us, which
/ is virulently inimical to democracy. Your money
/ cannot be better spent than in a way to make
/ the teaching force OF the schools economically
/ Independent. The efficient teacher must have
/ living conditions that viii enable him To hold
| his head up among mcp. So much Is expected
/ OF him, and 80 much for the future good of the
race depends upon him that 1t is OF NJ utmost
/ importance that he be not poverty stricken aud
warned by penury to the point or forming the
] psychology Of class inferiority. AId this Is
fully to being the case at the present juno
ture. as IL reflected IN the attitude OF the so
/ called better element OF society toward the
teaching profession, rather than from any in
| hcrent conviction among themselves of such.
Teachers should not only receive enough re-
muucration to meet the bare necessities Of life.
] but they must go to summer school; they should
/ have the best magazines; they should hear the
best lectures and enjoy the best music; they
should travel during vacation as well as go TO
] school ana visit places Of interest they should
not be deprived Of an occasional rest at some
. resort to rccoup their nervous energy that
/ surely needs 1t after months OF teaching; they
should go on itineraries, and learn from actual
contact with places and people, many things
/ that cannot bc had from books And this all
takes money, but It would make a new being
out OF "A tired teacher that has gone through
two semesters of mental giving out to others.
This would give the teacher some inspiration, so
/ that Inspiration could bc given in turn to the
| pupils And these things are not one whit more
/ than the teacher should have to maintain true
| efficiency. Teachers with such advantages could
! go into their school work at the beginning of
/ each school year with hone vim and enthusiasm,
/ that would be infectious The pupils would
/ partake of it. In Il word, the teacher must have
chance to imbibe before he can mpart And
is his imbibing, so il the quality of his inn
! parting. The imbibng should be copous.
But 1t takes money to make the mare GO So
low to make both ends meet with the eNechduer
/ empty, AMI t-- means vf r-pi-uishing IL in
adequate The salarss OF Iul lsa teachers, by re-
| cent Investigations, are far below the point of
| meeting the most fundamental necessities. Rap
Idly rising living costs and slowly rising salaries
| have left us with loose belts. and not very good
? belts Those iu whose hands is placed the dis
pensinE Of the finances of the school system have
convinced Us by their sincere explanations Of the
! availability OF funds that they willing and
! anxious to Increase the remuneration OF the
Tulsa teachers to the extent OF the funds avail
. able for that purpose, but that there is not
/ enough available for anywhere near the amount
/ required to put the teachers on the proper fl
/ nanCial footing. Also that there rs no hope for
/ anything much better In the future except from
the increased valuation ot the taxable property,
/ which would Yield only a small amount In the
future over thu present The only other alter
native, Il is said. Is to change the state consi-
! tuition, making II possible to levy taxes for
. schOoi purposes up TO thirty mills, instead Of
I fifteen mills, as al present II that is the only
/ way out / am Of the will to do 10. and "a mar
shal the entire force OF an the teachers In the
I state into a solid organization for a crusade to