The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-09-22
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
BY Hazel Bronnon

What's sauce for the goose is
supposed to be sauce for the gan
der-the time honored adage
goes. But this apparently doesn't
apply in the current controversy
regarding equalization of salaries
for white and negro teachers in
Mississippi.
One Of the most violent OBJ
jections voiced to the plan being
promulgated by Gov. Fielding
L. Wright, who hopes to get this
program through the legislature
voluntarily before Federal inter-
ference makes US do it anyway,
is that teachers would have to
take, of all things, examinations.
Why q teacher would object to
taking examinations-after sitting
in the drivers seat for so many
years giving them--is difficult to
understand. And we aren't trying
to be funny.
The proposed examinations
would not be on subject matter
the teachers teach but a national
examination drawn up to deter
mine the fitness. etc. of teacher
to her job. Such tests have been
given in South Carolina success
fully. We don't see how any
teacher could honestly object to
taking a test indicating his or her
ability to teach.
We have always commended that
teaching is one of the most inn
portant but underpaid professions
and teachers should be paid ac-
cording to educational attain
ments, ability and experience
and we don't think there should
be any discrimination because OF
ones sex or color.
It Is q well known fact that
many male teachers are paid more
than women by virtue Of the fact
Shey are men--and in some cases
women with more training and
!. as much or more experience re-
ceive less than men in the same
position.
.as The discrimination in this is
apparent to any fair-minded per-
son.
The fairness of equal pay for
Negro teachers who have achiev-
ed the same educational attain
ments is also apparent and no
Christian right-thinking man or
woman will deny it.
Mississippi is not economically
able to do everything we would
like to do for our school chill
dren, white or colored, now. But
we are surely making progress
in the direction Of better school
facilities and faculties for both
races. -
To recognize attainment of de-
rrees as a measure of education
al progress and reward it by rails
ing the level Of pay regardless OF
sex or race is sure way to raise
the standards of education
throughout the state.
It should be done.
We have on our desk an inter-
esting new magazine, Southern
Fireside," published at Birming-
ham, Alabama. The September
issue containing delightful COW
er of lovely young girl before
a fireplace is Volume / Number /,
of what we hope will be a long
and profitable enterprise.
The publication In the South OF
a magazine carrying writings OF
southerners and dedicated to the
development of the South is GER
tainly worthy and needed under
taking. We need such publica-
ton to sell many of our own peo-
pie on this region and to bring
about a greater appreciation OF
the South and its contribution &c
the American scene.
In its reason for being, stated
on the editorial page of the first
edition, the editor says: Sou.
thern Fireside is dream-come'
rtue--a dream of many years ano
many people.
ut is regional magazine II
every sense, for it aims at telling
the story of the South, to South
erners, by Southerners or those
with Southern experience. 1t !:
South-owned.
"Yet, being Southern it repre-
sents no point of view save tha'
which has its origins in thing:
basically American 1t neither
speaks to, nor for, any specia
group or faction. It seeks to tel
the story of the South TODAY
tomorrow and yesterday in fac
tual presentations.AsIt spurns al
causes other than those that seel
better life for all our people. 1
stresses a more progressive farm
program, increased industry tina
will utilize better the product.