Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-04-03
LOW SALARIES
FOR TEACHERS Is
MENTAL SUICIDE

Bv International Labor News Service,
Washington. u. G.. April "A
nation which lets incapahles teach u
While eapahie men anu women only
feed. elothe and anuse It Is eem-
hitting intellectual suicide. SAYS the
Research Bulletin of the National
Education Association for March,
1928. The Bulletin deals With The
salaries of public sehool teachers daf-
ing l924-25. IL says, Salaries de-
,ermlne to a great extent;
|. The eallbef Of the people al
tIeacted 10 the teaching profession.
?. The preparation and training Of
teachers.
3. The kind OF teachers retained.
1. The morale OF the teaching Sta6.
8. The place OF teachers in the life
Of the community.
Repor, Is Comprehensive
This i the most comprehensive IN
ouiry on public school salaries yet
issued Ii gives salary facts for over
a malt a million teachers ami school
employees. What Is more, II gives this
comprehensive data for this year for
the use of school boards that are aetu-
ally facing the problem Of higher
salaries for better teachers. The data
is so presented that school officers
can compare the salaries paid in their
local school systems with those paid
in l,A4s other cities.
The studies of the Research Divis-
ion show that during the past two
years teachers salaries have increased
much faster in the eitv than in couu-
try districts and that superior teach
ers win be drawn from the one~teaeh'
er country schools where the median
salary is only S7h5 year. unless
some means can be found for paying
better salaries in those schools.
Wages Determine Teachers Calibre
Commenting on the report, the
Journal of the National Education As
sociation says editorially:
"School boards look to the National
Education Association for relief fg.
ures upon which to base advanced
salary schedules. For years the asso-
cations work in this field has been
outstanding.
9TH eReSearch division of the Asso-
citation has just published bulletin on
Public School Salaries in l92is2a,
which is the most comprehensive re
port yet isued. IL gives salary facts
for over half million teachers and
school employees. What is more, L.
wives this comprehensive data in time
for the use of school boards now
actually facing the salary problem.
"a study of this report shows
plainlv that the schools seek their
teachers in competitive market.
Salaries determine LARGELY the caliber
Of the people attracted to the profes-
sion, the quality OF their training, the
kind of teachers retained. the morale
of the teaching staff, and the place OF
teachers in the community.
Teachers Deal With Big Problem
"Teachers deal with the greatest
common problem of the community
that of training its young. They
should exercise large influence in de.
termining "ublic policies. Much of
their work is rendered futile by con-
ditions over which they have no i'm
mediate control but which they should
greatly influence through their active
performance of the duties of citizen
ship with the needs of children In
mind.
Teaching is sacred business. No
true teacher thinks nrimaril" of sal
ary, but every teacher coyets for him-
self and his fellows an income which
will make possible a life rich and full
in order that there may be abundant
energy for the challenging opportuni.
ties of the schoolrOom. Let Us all
stand shoulder to shoulder in a con
tinued demand for higher salaries Tor
better teachers until every teacher Is
enabled to live the kind of life that
we wish the best people in our com
munities TO live