Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-06-08
Teacher Supply Equals the
Demand.

Demand.
"Back to the schoolroom" on the
part of men and women who gave
up school work during the fat years
following Immediately after the war
is one result of the process of de-
fation now going on over the state,
according to w. H. Jones and j. II.
shealy. Mr.. Jones is president of one
of the largest teachers agencies in
the South and Mr.. Shealy is regis
trar of the state teachers bureau, op-
Grated in connection with the state
department of education. These two
men are in position to speak with au-
thority with regard to matters hav-
ing to do with teachers in this state.
Mr.. Jones said many men and wo-
men who were in the teaching pro-
fession before the war took up other
work during the war, but that now
they are coming back. Some of those
who are again entering the school
room have been engaged in rubber
and tire manufacturing establish
ments, others found employment as
chemists, mechanics, electricians and
civil engineers. Wages in these es-
tablishments have been cut in many
instances and some of them have
closed down entirely so that their
employees are seeking work else
where, and the schoolroom is feeling
the effect. Mr.. Shealy said that
considerable number of men and wo-
men who had been doing clerical work
were arranging to take up teaching
again in the fall.
The shifting of teachers from one
place to another this year will be con-
fined largely to teachers among the
lower grades and to those. holding the
smaller principalships. Last year, Mr..
Jones said, there was an unprece-
dented shift affecting the larger
schools such as those of Florence,
Cheraw and others. This year men
holding the better positions are stand
ing pat and will remain where they
are.
Cuts in Salaries.
As regards salaries, Mr.. Jones said
that they were almost at stand
still, and was of the opinion that they
would become stable around rs per
cent of the highest salaries paid dur
ing the war period. Among the small
er schools he said there was ten
dency to cut salaries somewhat, es-
pecially in those localities where
in order to secure teachers,
had had to pay more than their in
come warranted.
Mr.. Shealy said that some cuts of
about / per cent Of the war time sal
aries had taken place. During the war
many schools raised the salaries be-
ing paid considerably, this being done
in order to secure. teachers and also
in desire to place teachers salaries
somewhat on a parity with salaries
in other businesses and professions.
Anticipate No Shortage.
Both of these men said that the
indications were that there would be
no shortage this year, and that the
supply was about equal to the de-
mand. They did not think that many
schools would be forced to remain
closed this fall because of inability
to secure teachers.
Mr.. Shealy said the state board Of
examiners, the board which examines
and grades the papers of teachers
taking the examinations for licenses
to teach, had approximately 5000 ap-
plications as result of the May ex-
aminations. These papers are now be-
ing graded by the three members of
the board.
While the supply of grammar grade
teachers promises to be adequate to
meet the demand, Mr.. Jones said
there was strong demand for teach
ers for high schools, for preparatory
school academies and that there was
a shortage of teachers of the modern
languages and of physics. The demand
for teachers of manual training is al
n4,o,-