The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-15

I rine Corps Institute, ard he priv
| ieges OF specialized education along
certain trade and professional. liaes
offered to men in the navy.
/ Learning Is in Demand,
/ Vocational rehabilitation of thai
wounded soldiers. and the incress-
ing demand for such training
among eX-seryice men all over thee
country, emphasizes the popular de-
sire for a more complete education.
In looking over lists of particular
cases asking such training, it is ap-i
paiiing TO note the number of III
/ eapaeitated men with families to-
| support, who did not get beyond
the fourth grade in school.
"A man of q has an average oil
"A years of productive life before
him, provided he has been so taught
and trained as to enable him to pre-
serve his health and strength. For
mer United States Commission Of
Education P. P. Claxton says that
If 1900 were paid for the educa-
ton of such an individual, and the
results of such an education spread +
over a period of A years, the cost
would be less than S35 a year.
The investment problem resolves /
itself into this simple question: I
Will the average man or woman
with such education and training as
could be given at cost of $500.
instead of 1852, produce enough !
more in taxable values to REIMBURSED
the state for the extra expendi-
ture?
In view of these suggestions. as
set forth by estimates made BIZ the
bureau of education, the far west +
ern states have found larger funds
for educational purposes a good in
vestment. Montana, California.
Nevada, Washington, the District Of
Columbia (the only eastern excep-
tom, Wyoming. Colorado and
Idaho, head the list in the largest
amounts appropriated for such pur-
poses with sums ranging from S6S7
per individual in Montana, to S4I5
in Idaho.
In considering the investing OF
81 800 for the education of each
child in the United States, as sug-
gested by Mr.. Claxton, one should
take into consideration the fact
that this amount will give element
airy and high school education to
all, in schools manned by COM
petent teachers and adequately
equipped. Moreover, such an ap-.
preparation would provide the high,
er education of the college, univers-i
fty professional and technical
schools for two or three times as,
many as now get it. 1t would also
allow opportunity for correspond
ence education of all those unable.
to attend a college or any other
school of higher education.
Pay to Teachers More.
The cheapest thing in the world
is a good teacher at any reasonable
price," to quote Mr.. CIaxton again.
The time, intellect, life and charac-
ter of our children are too precious
to be wasted and misused by teach
ers who are incompetent The work
of the teachers is tho most import
ant work done in America. More
depends on it than on the work of
any other class of men or women"
How much does the United States
spend on its teachers? North Caro-
lima is at the bottom of the list
with an average salary of 1924 the
year. The average salary paid
teachers is less than the wages paid
scrub-wcmen or ditch-diggers, ac-
cording to the committee on educa-i
ton of the house of Representatives.
There is only one state in the union
which pays an average teachers
salary of over 81 900 a year. Cali
fornia leads the states with $1,912.
The District of Columbia, however,
goes this figure one better, granting
an average annual salary of 81 ,052.
After these two, the only states
paying an average annual salary Of
over 5000 are New York Arizona,
Washington and New Jersey.
This is country of poor schools
and underpaid teachers. With all
our wealth it is hard to get a decent
education in America. When We
have fully grasped this fact we may
do something about it.