The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-15
. After Many
Years
When SIS Went A
Long Way
A Tacoma Teacher
Tells Her Story
We Can Find the
Answer Nov.


Answer Nov.
BY Z I. SHORT
ONCE upon a time a woman
" who had 4 job in a city school
At s35 a month for ten months
was n Of the piutocrats Of the
community. But in the country a
teacher who boarded around and
received a cash salary Of si2 a
month for eight or nine months
was a person set apart-really
somebody.
The s35 a month in the CITY
was ample for the requirements
Of three generations ago. Board
and room in one Of the towns
best families could be obtained
for So to 81 a week. That was
when eggs e r IL cents a dozen.
butter Is to 20 cents a pound
meat Is cents a pound and with
q nib roast the butcher would
throw in" a couple of pounds of
liver or a soup bone.
There were no contributions 10
the PIT. A. or the various profess
sional organizations 10 which
school teachers are required 10
contribute today. Only two school
dresses were required-one for
winter and one for summer. There
were no community chest or other
drives for which school teachers
today are fair game.
The country school teacher with
free board and s12 or SIS q month
was equally well off. There
always was a farm boy to squire
her to the box socials or other
affairs and she had little expense
besides the few dresses she re-
CURED.
The teaching profession did not
then require the initial investment
that must be made by those who
would teach today. A bright pupil
In the second year of high school
could pass the examination and
obtain a teachers certificate.
Sometimes an eighth grade grad
uate would get a certificate.
Things are different today. How
great is the difference can be seen
by the following paragraphs of a
letter written by a Tacoma grade
school teacher to Supt. Howard r.
Goold. The teacher wanted more
money but there isn't any more
money. Here is what she wrote:
This is my third year Of
teaching and my contract pays
$3.50 q year. After substract-
ing S. for retirement, IL leaves
$3.50 a month. My expenses
are approximately - follows:
Board and room. $4,000
Transportation ........ 1000
Insurance ........... 500
Clothing upkeep ...... 1900
Appearance ........... 500
Contributions to PIT.
A., w. Il. A, N. L. A.,
Community Chest, Red
Gross, Church organ
izations, etc. 1900. 500
From the remaining S16.25,
I must save $40 a month for
my income tax. 1 would like
to complete my B. A. degree
by next fall, which will cost
$120 or $40 n month. After
all these expenses are taken
out, II does not leave anything
for recreation. social func-
tons, old debts or the pur-
chase of war stamps and
bonds.
1 hope this will give you
some idea of the expenses
that we have to meet on a
salary Of $3.50 q year.
This teacher seems to be up
against 1t. II she doesn't pay her
income tax Uncle Sam will put
her in Jail. II she doesn't buy
stamps and bonds she will be a
Stacker. II she doesn't dress well
somebody will be asking why she
doesn't II she doesn't make an
effort to improve her professional
standing the school authorities
viii think she is no good and her
Job may 60 TO another who seems
To show more ambition.
Tacoma il going to try 70 an
ever some of these teachers prob
lens at the November election
when the people will vote on a
five mill levy for school purposes.
A three mill levy received a ma
Jority vote at the municipal cleo
ton last spring but majority isn't
enough unless the total number Of
votes equals a certain per cent
OF the votes cast at the preceding
election. In this case not enough
voters were interested to meet that
requirement and the levy was lost.
Now, with the war making
school costs still higher. the five
mills viii be barely enough 10 e
Us through next year. The out
come depends on how many peo-
pie car when election day arrives.