Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-14


the schools compsient teachers, teach
tive ABILITY and disposition. by gen
struc;ion and training ana Ivy cxpcr-
;I raI , h21h in n, school GC ana in the prae-
Q UGH is the standard for the American
- public school teachers as set forth by
the United States Commissioner of Educa-
ton. 1t is no arbitrary standard he has
evolved. He has merely formulated and
cnunciatcd the demands made upon tho man
Or woman who aspires to teach by the pa
irons Of the public schcool---thc parents
who send their boys and girls there to be
educated
Ii is a high standard, but not too high.
III any other profession or business one
measuring up 10 it could command his own
salary, and IL would be written in mpos-
ing figures. 1t is not so in the schoolroom.
There Is such wide discrepancy between
what the American public demands in cdu-
cation and what it is willing TO pay. that
it is no matter for surprise that thousands
Of cultured devoted men and women who
can meet the ClaxtUn standard are refusing
to work for shameful pittancc and are
seeking more rcmuncratve fields.
The South, with its proicssedly high
ideals, is the greatest offender. It's figures
tell dsgracefu story. In the matter OF
average salary paid to all their teachers,
according to the figures of MIR. Claxton. ton
OF the Southern States are nj tho bottom
OF the list. Only three Northern States,
West Virginia Maine and Vermont. are SO
meagcr in their rewards to the teachers,
and they pay more than any of the South
Crn States, with the exception OF Louisiana
and Texas.
Read part Of the list. sec What the
average annual salary is, and it will not
be necessary TO seek further for the reason
why the world taunts the South with it's
llitcracy: North Carolina, $2S4; Mssis-
sippi, $29l; South Carolina $3l5: Ala
hama. S$45: Kentucky. S544; Georgia,
$3.50; Tennessee, $40; Florida, 1888; Vir-
gnia. S3S5. In these same Southern States
the average salary in the city schools is lit
tie better. Here in Virginia it is S5S7 in
the rural schools, S3li, and in the high
schools, $Sl9.
What n travcsty on education il is to
demand such qualifications as Mr. CiaMon
outlines. and then ask the teacher meeting
them TO devote his time and his service to
public that is so unapprcciative and I'M
grateful as TO offer a salary Of 1914 Il year
in the country, or S5S7 if he takes a place
in the city! What unskillcd day laborer
would not laugh to scorn one so foolishly
audacious as TO ask him to work for such
beggarly sum.
While the South is the greatest offender,
the country as a whole has cause for shame
at what il pays its teachers. The average
rural salary for all the States is only S479
for city teachers. sS5i for high school
teachers, 1913. with a general average for
all teachers of $G35. Is it any wonder that
education has become grave national
problem?
Either the standard must be lowered or
the cmolum"ns mus. be raised. II the first
is uni.nkable as it is--then the latter Is
necessary. The public should understand
that ;he teaching profession must be ade-
qwatc!y paid II lis effectiveness is TO con-
Inne. Virginia is low in the list. only eight
states paying lower salaries, bu, il is wax
ing UP 10 the conditions and necessities. and
before long VIC hope to sec il leading the
movement for decent salaries To teachers
VINO can qualify To the standard
The situation in Upper Silesia is an angry
sore in the allied program OF bringing
peace TO distracted world II the effcc-
tive remedy be not quickly applied, it may
draw all of Central Europe into another