The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-03-18
: BETTER TRAINED
TEACHER, DEMAND
: Increased Pay Calls For
Thoroughly Equipped
Profession.

Ken ,wky has a numb r OF BIC lcrn
well-equ. 1n,d school OARS that sro
closed 'nrJ the summer months Ken
lucky has a number 81 competent and
qualified ,eachers who are either
idle tr 'rsaged In o.ler work thru
tho sumiosr month";. Kentucky has
s)me - 900 public school teachers
Of whom not one-four are properly
prepared Kentucky has lhieA state
teacher tanning institution, Offer
ing summer courses to telchere actual
or prospective. 1t is dsJlred that the
maximum number OF teachers attend
the summer school a. one OF these
institutions. II the maximum num-
Der does attend each of these institu-
lions there would still be left more
Ethan 10000 public school teachers
swithout opportunity for work in a
summer school in Kentucky.
Why, can not Kentucky use her
competent teachers, otherwise engag-
ed In other business, to conduct a
GUNNER school in these well-equipp-
ed school plants, otherwise closed,
for the benefit of these 10000 public
school teachers, otherwise denied
chance? Kentucky has doubled the
teachers salary within the last IL
months; she has a right to demand in
creased efficiency on the part of the
teacher. The taxpayers have in
creased their school taxes they have
a right to demand that they shall
have better prepared teachers. If the
increase in salary of teacher and of
superintendent means that we shall
have the same teacher and the same
superintendent, without improvement
in interest or preparation or capa-
city, we shall have helped possibly
the teacher and the superintendent
but we shall not have improved our
schools nor shall we have given the
children a better chance. We must
keep faith with the taxpayers.
Above all, we must keep faith with
the children for whose benefit. and
Cor whose benefit alone, schools exist
and salaries are increased.
The two state Normals and the
University are generously promoting
the plan of establishing summer
schools in as many counties as con-
djtions Will justify. These schools
will offer a five weeks term. Full
credit will be given for work done in
these summer schools, provided 1t
measures up to the regular standards.
II will bring teacher-training oppor-
tunities closer TO the teacher. II
will cheaper the cost of attending a
summer school, 1t will vindicate the
teachers pledge TO the taxpayer that
better pay meant better prepared
teacher. The course offered must
of necessity be limited in scope. II
will be designed to meet the needs
of those most limited in their pre-
paration. Those desiring a wider and
fuller course will find it in the sum
mer schools offered by the two Nor
NAL schools and by the University.
Such teachers will be expected to at
tend the established institutions for
summer work.
The last week of these summer
schools will be designated institute
regular institute, and all teachers
in the county will be compelled to at
tend The salary schedule of each
county will carry a provision that
recognizes and rewards the teachers
who attend the summer school. The
superintendent just appointed can
do no better thing than attend them
selves some school offering work
suitable for them at its summer ses-
sion. A teachers preparation or
superintandents preparation is not
. a thing that Is accomplished once and
then is back of us forever; so long
as we are capable Of learning, our
preparation continues. When we
shall have reached the point when
we can no longer grow, then We are
dead and should quit the profession.
The Kentucky child is entitled to
drink from stream OF living water,
and not from a. stagnant pond. Ken
lucky must have better prepared
teschers; every educational facility
must have better prepared teachers;
every educational facility ought to be
devoted to that end. We can not
safely or wisely overlook any OPP |
portunity to accomplish this result.
This is problem Of the people |
rather than of the teaching profess
sion. The people should demand 1t