Licking Valley courier., 1921-03-10
Better Qualification: Better Pay.

Inere is n very StrOng sentiment
throughout the county for the improve
ment of our educational system. Al
are agreed that two things are necces
sary-better qualified teachers and
better salaries for them.
Teachers may become qualified eth
or by experience or by training in
High School and Normals. The aver.
age age of the rural teacher in the
United States is less than twenty-five
years. The average experience is less
than fOrty-eight months. The latter
statement is, no doubt, true in this
county. That Is, teachers do not re-
main in the profession long enough to
gain experience that properly qualities
them for the work. There is, of
course because the pay is small com
pared with other occupations and pro-
fessions. Less than half the teachers
of the United States are graduates of
High School. What per cent Of our
teachers are graduates? Let me say
that believe the best qualified teach
er is the one with experience plus
school training. The teacher must
continue to be student while teach
ing. Now the law has raised the
standard. We must comply. 1t may
he difficult for some teachers to meet
the requirements We may thereby
lose some Of the best, some who have
had experience necessary for success.
Those who can should comply with the
law and determine to remain In the
profession. The children in Morgan
county deserve trained and qualified
teachers.
But the teachers deserve a salary
which will enable them to qualify, and
which Is commensurate with other
workers, They are not to blame with
low standards, and short professional
experience. We have made a begin
ming in the right direction but must
go further. The minimum salary Is
now $500 but this is for teachers
meeting higher standard Compare
this with salaries twenty years ago.
Then they received $50 to $50 n month
The buying power of $40 then would
easily equal the buying power of 500
how. That is, teachers are not as well
paid now as they were twenty years
ago. Is that progressl Why not try
to make the minimuW salary 500 for
the next weary Then there will be
some incentive for teachers to strive
to obtain the higher qualifications.
Teachers must prepare to teach better
and then demand better pay. The
Lolloq lo5dX0 ol lQSlL U oAuu oIdoid
service from teachers and they must
be willing fur better service to have
better pay,
Perhapps the best way of obtaining
the higher qualifications by some.
VIII be by correspondence. This will
be discussed elsewhere in this paper
Correspondence study.
" Is evident that 1t Is difficult
problem for the teachers of the State
to comply with the new law. The
teacher shortage problem thleatens TO
be serious. The Superintendent of
SchoGlS o. thestate recognizes this and
has taken steps for the solution of these
problems. | refer to correspondence
study. This seems 70 NQ the best meth.
od foE many teachers who cannot leave
home for II course. IL will reuulre
work und sacrifice of some kind.
IL may he that those who persue
course will have to take SOU. time
from their farm SuV household duties.
HNt Jhey can afford TO do this, for
every high school and normal diploma
represents n price in both time aud
money. The cost in dollars will be
less nhan the cost II the student must
pay board. Though there may be
some Objectionable features to the