The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-01-28
THE TEACHERS AND THE 10y.
Atty BILL.

The injustice of the present scale OF
compensation for school teachers is not
- limited to the individuals. 1t affects
the pupils as we'll. In order to fill the
ranks vacated by teachers entering
other pursuits to gain an adequate in
come, there are in the city of Chicago,
alone, Psi teachers who are below
grade employed because no better ma
terial is available. The entrants to
normal schools are falling off, because
the teachers profession has become
attractive.
Increased pay has been won with
seeming ease by all classes of labor,
both skilled and unskilled. To increase
the income of school teachers it is
necessary to secure legislative enact
ment in most cases. Even though par
ents ignore the unfairness of the COM
pensation of public school teachers,
they w it to their children to in
crease the pay standard, so that the
standard of teachers in u public
schools may be maintained at an ade-
quate point. The welfare of posterity
is at stake.
This is all conceded because one can
not help but realize the vital nature of
teaching as a profession. And, it is
unreasonable but to concede that the
capable teacher should deceive remun-
Grafton in accordance with her ability
and training. Public sentiment is ov-
er whelmingly with the school teach
erwhelmingly with the school teach
ers of the state of Montana in their eff
fort to elevate the standard of the pro-
fession. but it must be remembered
that the moment these same teachers
step over the line into unreasonable
political channels, then and there do
they lose the favor of public opinion.
Much has been said of late relative
to a measure just concurred upon by
the two Montana houses of legislature
making it compulsory for the teachers
of the Montana educational i%nstitu-
tions to take the oath of allegiance.
Many of the profession have bitterly
protested averring that the edict con
stituted an insult to the members of
the teaching fraternity.
1t may be true, and it certainly is,
are patriotic citizens, and laW-abiding.
There could be, and there is, no que
ton to this fact. Nevertheless, this
Soil bS "VI oofN VI Vic CltlLtlIy vi
the state; yet because there be a few
who are not law-abiding among the
citizens, we have laws against all sorts
of crime. Reports have shown in re-
cent weeks that certain members of
our higher and lower educational fac
ulties have manifested radical tenden-
cieS. Be these reports true or false, of
course is a question. Nevertheless,
the loyalty bill comes merely as rain
alike upon the just and the unjust.
h misdemeanors of a few have re-
suited in a legal obligation on the part
of all. 1t is the only course that legis-
lation a pursue.
So far as the loyalty bill is con-
cerned it is difficult to see any inius-
tice or insult to any teacher of the
schools of Montana. 1t is not a re-
Election upon the patriotism of any
teacher, but merely a timely safeguard
to the pupils who are naturally guided
by the attitude of the teacher.
Certainly the states schools should
be protected by a raised standard of
the teaching profession. This can
come mainly through increased sal
aries to the teachers. And, since pat
riotism is the first law of any success
full nation, just so should these schools
be safeguarded along PATRIOTS lines.