Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-11-03
FOR STANDARD
j TEACHERS PAY
Teachers Assn Plan System
attic Schedule to Improve
School System

WIN the 1dea or Sta~ndardtZing the
salaries of the public school teach
ers in this city and arranging a
systematic schedule whereby good
teachers may be retained, the teach
ers' association of this city has
started a movement which, it is be-
lieyed, will greatly improve the
school system of Perth Amboy. For
the purpose of setting before the
public the facts in the matter. sew
eral articles have been prepared by
the teachers which the Evening
News has agreed to publish. Fol-
lowing is the first of these articles:
All intelligent American citizens
are interested in the progress of the
Public School System which has as
its ultimate aim the training of
good useful citizens. Therefore the
schools are maintained at public ex-
pense for the welfare and develop
ment of the pupils as the coming
citizens Of our nation.
What then Is the first require
ment for good schools? Is it not
good teachers? OF course good
buildings and equipment nre excel
lent aids but the great source of
power in a school system is good
teaching. To insure this type of
teaching for schools. men and wom-
en- Of high character and ability
must be attracted to the teaching
profession. Many men ond women
Of high ideals and power are not
entering the field of teaching be-
no matter how idealistic one
may be he cannot afford to enter
a profession which does not assure
rewards commensurate with his
ability and training.
How can men and women of this
type be attracted to teaching? First,
1t Is necessary to have a minimum
salary high enough to justify an
adequate amount of preparation and
professional training considered as
3 high enough to fairly compensate
him for the time and money invest
ed in his training. Second, it
should be high enough to permit
the teacher to live for twelve
months in the year at a standard
demanded of teachers and condu-
Give to health and happiness. The
teachers in American cities are less
well paid now than they were in
1913-1914. The inquiry conducted
by the National Committee on
chamber of Commerce Corpora
2tion with the public schools shows
that the average increase in teach
ers' salaries since 1914 has been 81
per cent. While st the same time
the cost of living has increased
over 100 per cent.
Third, 1t need not be higher than
enough to C these advantages
for the city.
The thoughtful citizen needs to
ask himself questions like the fol-
lowing: ~ Can teachers in our
community have a comfortable
place to live. good food, and decent
clothes for the amount of money
which we pay them? CD Are the
teachers who work in our schools
able. on the salary paid to them, to
make provision against the liabili-
ties Of illness and old age? CD Do
the teachers in our city have sala-
ries to enable them to buy books, to
subscribe to magazines, to enjoy
professional study, and otherwise to
lead the type of life which makes
them the kind of men and women
that can be most helpful to my boys
and girls? "a Would 1 want my
son and daughter to go into teach
ing? Is the recognition given to
teachers. in terms of salary, in my
city sufficient to attract the ablest
of the young men and young women
In u community?
The quality of the service render
ed in the public school will certainly
deteriorate if our American COM
munities fail to give teachers ade-
quate support. If American boys
and girls are to have transmitted to
them the ideals of our democratic
society we must see to it that men
and women of broad education who
are able to participate with us in
the development of our society. are
at unrk in nllr schools