The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-28
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Buredu
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Dirscssr.
Washington, D. Q.
SHOULD PROFESSORS EAT?

fusely, but he felt tnat ne had gooo
excuse.
The electricians are working here
today" he explained, "and one of
them wanted to go to the basement
and you know their time costs lot"
What the college professor said
about his wasted time is not recorded.
As a matter of fact. the electrician
probably didScost the college more per
hour than its teachers do.
The elevator mans idea that pro-
fessors rank very low in the scale of
earning ability has long been the popu-
lar attitude. But colleges are begin
ming to crusade for the rights of their
instructors. They realize that a low
Asalary scale for college professors is
boomerang that stikes back at the
college in one 9ftwo ways. Either the
| college can obtain only Inexperienced
teachers, or else it holds the self-sacri-
ficing experts who stay on and divide
their energies between their classes
and some outside work to make ends
meet.
Either way, the college with under
paid instructors is not getting efficient
| teaching.
Lately, several women's colleges
| have been campaigning to make it
| possible for their professors to earn
suitable salaries. A goal is set, and
students and alumni go out and try
j all the ways of earning money will
| have been tested during the past few
! years in innumerable drives.
| Each student pledges a sum; gem
/ orally a large sum for girl still get
| ting and education. 9nd she promises
to pay this pledge by her own efforts
| during the time aIlowed-perhaps two
or three years.
Vassar is now conducting such a
! campaign. Her salary scale is lower
! than that Of any other womans col
| 1ege of similar standards. Nassar
| shows that she has been able to keep
| capable teachers only because they
resorted to outside employment, as
college teachers everywhere are.doing.
/ Practically every member of the
Efaculty at this college who has a house
| takes in roomers, it is said. few
college girl in house may 1iven
| things up for the professor, tho fac
ulty members. no doubt would prefer
a more peaceful atmosphere at home.
How Teachers Make Living.
Come instructors write articles for
newspapers and magazines. Numbers
/ of them teach at summer schools IN
different parts of the country when
they need to be resting or studying
for the next years work
At Vassar there are 102 women
teachers and % men. The wives OF
these men help. too. No longer IS the
professors wife satisfied to sit al
home and turn her husbands coat and
think of new ways to make bread
pudding One, at this college, runs q
| shop where she sells baskets and other
craft-work done by mountaineers. An
other writes children's books, and q
third is photographer.
But even these devices do not al
ways stretch a salary that was meagel
in 1918 over a 1921 expense account
Except where colleges have conducted
drives and raised salaries, instructors
have scarcely received any materia
increases in pay during the boom OF
salaries in most lines of work.
/ 1t is figured now that the cost o.
living is still roughly rs per een1
higher than, in 1913. It was los pei
cent higher in 1919, and it is still
dropping a little. But the dollar vii
probably not reach the old 1918 leNe
for some years again.
So the plan of Vassar to raise it!
salary scale. "a per cent barely put
the college professor on his prevail
living scale. Yet a 81 per cent rais'
its salaries compare favorably Witf
those of other colleges in its class. Thu
college professors are beginning (
receive appreciation, but they are still
far from Easy Street.
The college girls set about thes'
salary campaigns with enthusiasm
In progressive women's college al
student activities are now regarded
educational. The salary campaign /
being used to teach the students thing
that they could not learn in tn
. academic lecture courses.
Each girl at Vassar agreed t
pledge 800. 1t was further agreed
. that the money was to be earned. NJ
girl was to write home for a check
At once business ventures of ever.
sort began to blossom out. In SOM
of the halls cider barrels were in
stalled, and quantities OF fresh eide
lare still being sold to girls who fee
: in need of refreshments before o
: after classes. Other girls set up it'll
shops and sold handwork or novelties
Some serve tea. Shows and benefit
: have been given.
How Girls Earn Money.
All sorts of talents are being turne
, to account in the girls efforts to ear
, their pledge money. Alumnae an
undergraduates are driving automo
biles, making and selling preserve
4 and doughnuts, painting fences an
= furniture and giving programs o
+, music and dancing.
other girls have gone out collect
ling. The Plumbers Union and tn
i Carpenters Union Of one city eac
gave $25 to a fund, because they wer
interested in helping an underpaid lin
of work to attain to more suitaol
: standard.
= In all their ventures in making an
collecting funds. the students are get
: ting practice in dealing with peopl
: on business terms. They learn some
i thing of the value of a dollar. Til
n work is a typical example of how col
| leges are trying to give practical e1
perience to girls.
f The modern girls college claims
Ibe a complete democracy, a sna
state in itself, with student officer
: and councils, student-run athletic
x and dramatics, perhaps conmunit
. theater with girl electricians and col
tune designers and all the rest of til
: theater staff. One college has a Ger
S sus bureau which registers girls an
!. / their abilities and inciinations.
sees that 10 girl has too many gu
side interests and it brings out ii
: bashful students who might be sweI
V along with the crowd turnout colleg
The faculty member, too, in mot
ern college. has to be more than