Evening star., 1947-09-07


celent coverage
given to the
problem by the Willard e. Givens.
newspapers, magazines, radio anc
motion pictures, are taking steps te
provide more school funds. Maxi.
mum salaries for teachers during
the coming year. according to early
estimates, will average from $500
to $500 higher than last year.
Advances have been made ir
many States, but mention of a few
will serve to illustrate the trend
Tennessee established a state mini
mum salary schedule, which means
that local boards may pay more but
not less. Last year the top salary
required in Tennessee was $1,192;
this year it is $2,295. Texas is an
other State, where the top of the
schedule doubled, going from $1,324
20 $3.50. Pennsylvania made big
step forward. Last year the highest
salary applying to the small towns
on the State schedule was $4,000;
this year they are moving up toward
q new maximum of $3,400. Indiana
teachers are moving from an old
maximum of $1,700 to new one
of $500. Alabama voters last week
overwhelmingly approved a con-
stitutional amendment to divert in
come tax revenues to school pur-
poses, thus assuring an approximate
so per cent increase in teachers
@alaries.
Cities Boosting Salaries.
What the State legislatures have
done means much for the teachers
in the open country and the little
towns, where salaries were the low
est in the United States.
Although they get less help
from the State legislatures, big
cities also have been moving ahead
on salaries. They have been going
over from the old plan of paying the
first grade teacher a little and the
high school teacher a little more to
the single-salary schedule, with
equal salary and opportunity for
teachers in all grades.
Some of the biggest increases are
those being opened up for elemen-
tary teachers in the big cities. In
San Francisco, for example, the
elementary teacher whose salary
stopped last year at $3,576 has the
change now to 60 to a maximum OF
$500 if she has the top qualif1ca-
lions. Here in Washington, Con-
gress raised the top salary for Dis
trict teachers to $4,000, which means
a step-up over a period of years
from the $3.50 that was practically
the top of the scale for elementary
teachers last year.
In spite of spectacular increases
in salaries in some parts of the
United States, research studies OF
the National Education Association
show that in terms of actual pur-
chasing power the average salary
which will be paid to the teachers
of the United States during the
coming school year is no more thar
they were receiving previous te
World War II.
Must Pay for Talent.
To insure teachers of the high
est capability for service in the
American public schools, we must
select and prepare the best talent
which America affords. We can not
get this talent unless we are willing
to pay salaries which are adequate
to attract and hold able young peo-
pie in the teaching profession. The
task is too big and too critical to be
undertaken by the teaching profes'
sion alone. Educators need the CO.
operation and help of all citizens.
AS qualified teachers take theil
places in the classrooms, we mus
maintain conditions which viii
keep them there. The day has MOI
yet passed when large numbers Of
teachers enter the profession "as
stepping stone to something
service and the shifting of the indi'
vidual teacher from one position tt
another weaken fundamentally the
quality of the teachers service tt
pupils and to community.
Fewer than half of the Nation!
teachers have the protection OF
tenure law which inSures their con
tinuance in service as long as theil
work is efficient. Uncertainty anc
concern for the future are recog'
nized enemies of good workmanship
in every occupation. The Natior
should give to all its teachers thu
professional security represented II
good tenure laws. Teachers secure
in their position grow in the p-ac'
tice of their profession and entel
actively into the affairs of the com.
munity in which they live.
Retirement Plans Required.
We must not only obtain gooe
teachers and keep them actively
employed during their maximum
period of useful service, we mus
also make adequate provision fol
dignified retirement when teachins
service is impaired by age or dis
ability. A sound retirement polio,
will keep in the classrooms of tht
Nation younger, more vigorous
teachers, whose preparation fol
their work includes mastery of {
program of studies that is con.
tinuslly being adapted to thu
changing needs of youth, AND of in
structional skills being CONSTANT!
improved by research and expert
uent in the techniques of instruc.
ton.
Adequate provision for aged ane
disabled public employees is nov
recognized as a public responsibility
Retirement benefits for teachers
tSee GIVENS. Page E-40