Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-26
Teachers Pay

Leu De f1edllSJlC anu
study the true problem con-
fronting educators today.
What is the real basis for
the crisis in education which
the whole Nation and. to be
specific, the District of CO.
lumbia is facing? 1t is the
necessity to re-evaluate the
Importance of the areas for
which our money is spent.
What does 1t profit a ma
ton to make sure of its de-
lenses, If the youth growing
up in that nation are unin-
formed or have not been
trained to think and to work
to the utmost Of their abil-
ity? What does it profit a
city to beautify its parks
and its highways, if the
youth who use these parks
and highways have no con-
ception Of their value and
do not respect the ordinances
Of that city?
And how are the youth
to become informed about
world history and future ma
tional needs, and how are
they to become the leaders
of tomorrow. or how are
they to be taught the value
Of property and respect for
law? These are not idle or
ethereal questions.
Already in the District one
out of every four teachers
has Substandard qualif1ca-
tions. There are not enough
teachers on the eligible list
to fill the vacancies for next
year. If these facts are true
now, we can expect them
to grow progressively worse
If certain other factors are
considered.
What young high school
student is going to make
teaching his career when he
knows he must study at least
four more years and then
give five years Of successful
performance before he can
earn as much as those who
choose a trade and immedi-
ately receive just compensa-
ton upon finishing their
high-school course?
1t is true that teaching
brings other satisfactions.
Many a fine young person
feels the call" to teach. just
as do others who feel the
call" to preach. But remem-
Der. these young people would
like to establish homes and
families as much as do those
who enter the industrial
world. To do that takes
money. Also these young peo-
Pile would like to feel that
they are giving service that is
considered valuable. A feel
ing of prestige among teach
ers would improve immensely
the morale and the quality Of
their teaching.
A well-known commenta-
tor recently remarked:
THE local communities
must accept the hardships
necessary to an adequate
school plan. and to the
achievement Of a superior
teaching fraternity. 1t means
spending money and energy
1t means the creation of a
social and economic climate
that will make teaching a
glorious profession"
Let's Be Realistic" Let's
re-evaluate the Importance OF
education. Who are more es-
sential than the youth of a
nation? What people con-
slider important they are will
ing to pay for. Let's put first
things first.
Margaret Moore,
Executive Secretary. D. C
Education Association.
%*&
A recent Star editorial ap,
proved the Commissioners
teacher salary raise propose
Orather than the higher in.
crease recommended by thu
Board Of Education a.
being both realistic anC
good. In my opinion 1t |
neither. Another nationa
round Of wage increases vii
leave the teaching profession
no better of comparativel
than beforehand no more at
tractive. There is an ines
capable relatively in this mat
Ter Of wages.
The time to give teacher,
salaries a superior standin
is now. There will. no doubt
never be a surplus of fund
waiting to be invested towar
this end. Good facilities an
favorable teacher-pupil ra
tics. as important as they arr
will be of small avail withou
well-trained and contente
teachers.
Idealists are the ultimat
realists: those who see ths