The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-23
HARM TO SCHOOLS
Secretary Pinet Against Wage
Cut for Teachers.
Course Is Both Unwise and Un-
just, He Says.
WILL RETARD EDUCATION
Shortage of Instructors OF the
Right Type in Kansas.
Struggle to Man Schools Under
Proper Supervision.

Declaring that recent attempts on
Kansas to cut their salary schedules is
a step in the wrong direction and can
result only in harm 10 the schools of
the state, F. L. Pinet, secretary of the
Kansas State Teachers association,
gave out a statement to show why
such a course is both unwise and I'M
just.
Menace To Education.
1T is with genuine regret that the
real freiends of the schools of Kansas
have noted from time to time sporadic
attempts on the part of boards of edu-
cation TO set on foot a movement look
ing toward a general reduction in
teachers salaries in this state.' said
Secretary Pinet. Such a course can
not be interpreted otherwise than as
being a menace to educational pro-
gress.
Contrary to the general impression
that prevails, there is no surplus of
trained and ~fficient teachers; in fact,
there is a desperate shortage of teach
ers-of the right type, that is, teachers
who by training, personality, expert
ence and professional equipment are
in position to render to the schools of
the state the service which the pa
irons have a right to expect. Dur
ing the last five years the supply of eff
ficient teachers has not opt up with
the demand, and any attempt at this
time to reduce the general salary scale
in the schools will result in a serious
impairment of the efficiency of our
schools.
\ Hcart-Breaking Struggle.
have been carrying on a heart break
ing struggle to man the schools under
their supervision properly. The
United States government reports just
issued show that the cost OF living
from 1913 to December, 1920. in
creased IS per cent in food, 15S per
cent in clothing and 81 per cent in
housing. As these three items take up
the major portion of any teachers sal
AIRY. 1t will be seen that the teachers
of Kansas are in no likelihood of be-
ing indicted as maIefactors of great
wealth. During the war many teach
ers periodically remained by their
posts when more attractive offers fl
naucially were made in other fields.
In order to make possible encourage
nent of the best class of teachers by
local communities, the Kansas State
Teachers association in the special
session of the Kansas legislature of
1920 obtained a revision of the laws
relating to tax levy for school pur-
poses, raising this levy so per cent, but
1t has only been during the last year
or SO that teachers salaries have been
at all substantially advanced.
That the present. condi-
lions are GnfaVorable is no secret, but
no friend of the public schools will
hold that the first step in economy is
to reduce the salaries of teachers in
public schools While there has been
somewhat of a decline in the cost of
living during the last six months, this
decline has not affected teachers gen.
orally. 1t is true that now flour
may be bought at SIS barrel and
sugar at 50 a hundred, but, in the
main. there has been no decline in
the cost of board. of housing, or OF
clothing. As a rule teachers are able
TO pay their bills from month to
month but are unable TO save much
for the future.
Need Experts in Schools.
Another point that should be kept
in mind is that teachers are not to be
classed with common labor, or even
with the crafts and trades. Teaching
is a profession which calls for expert
personal services. Society expects a
service from its teachers similar to
that which it expects from its
physicians, its surgeons. its dentists
and its lawyers, and so far there has
been no attempt on the part of the
publlc TO reduce the income of those
engaged in these other professions
dealing with personal service. More
over, it should be remembered that
in the main teachers are paid for only
seven, eight or nine months, but must
live turnout twelve months of the
year and that in addition, the public
expects its teachers to yearly invest in
self-improvement by attending sum-
uer sessions of normal schools, col
leges and universities.
There can be but one outcome of
this attempt to reduce teachers sal
aries. The schools which maintain
their present scale of salaries, or
which provide increases in the pres
ent scale, will attract the better
teachers. On the other hand, the
schools which attempt to reduce SAL
aries will succeed only in attracting
to their school systems the unfit. the
q IL e.