Milford chronicle., 1960-12-30
HAPPIER DAYS FOR EDUCATION

HAPPIER DAYS FOR EDUCATION
About 10 years ago a huge cry went up
about the school problem shortage of
classrooms, low teacher pay and too few
teachers, especially in science and math-
ematics.
With typical American urgency, Ameri-
can communities went to work. The results
are amazing.
Ten years ago hardly one-fifth of students
entering college would consider teaching. To-
day nearly one-third of all college graduates
are choosing teaching careers.
From 1949 to 1859, school instructional
staffs increased 81 per cent, compared with
an increase in the entire civilian labor force
of IL per cent. The number of graduates
qualified to teach mathematics and science
doubled in the short span of five years from
1854 to 1859.
In constant dollars, the pay of public
school teachers increased As per cent in the
10 years, while that of all employed persons
went up only 20 per cent. Teacher salaries
have more than doubled since 1916, averag-
ing around $4,000 last year.
During the decade, $1,000 classrOoms
were completed 100000 requirements and
367, 900 additional ones. The us. Office of
Education estimates $4,000 classrooms will
be needed by 1869. In the last five years, we
have built an average of 1880 classrooms
per year-a rate 10 per cent greater than
will be required to meet estimated needs in
coming years.
Over all, it's quite record of accomplish
ment. The school situation seems to be
changing from problem" to a point-with-
pride proposition.
CHURCHILL AT sc
Winston Churchill is now going on year
number eighty-seven. Though confined to his
bed by doctors, Sir Winston took the bull by
the horns the other day, got out of bed for
his birthday and lit up one of those famous
cigars for photographers.
The debt of the entire free world to this
astounding man is an immense one What
some people fail to appreciate is the contrib
ution he has made to his country, the United
States, and the free world since World War
II.
Churchill has provided the counsel of
wise statesman to Anthony Eden and to Har-
old Macmillan, and even to the Laborites,
when they were in power. Inevitably, before
too many years, the grand old man of Bri-
tain will pass on. We need not wait to pay
him tribute until that melancholy day.
For who can forget = and who does not
feel a stir in remembering = the prophetic
warnings of the fighting Churchill in the
1905? Who can forget his dauntless grit in
1910, when all the odds were against Eng
land, and when she held on by the skin of her
teeth, largely because of the inspiration and
bulldog tenacity of this determined man?
A writer of renown, a fighter in the Boer
War; Navy leader and active service vete-
ran of World War I, the leader of the free
world in World War H. and a statesman and
defender of the crown throughout his long
years in public office, he has no counterpart
in the world today. If there is one most-dis-
tinguished citizen of the free world it must
be Sir Winston.
Therefore, it is good to see the old fire
horse well and kicking at the advanced age
of 86. 1t is comforting to all who are feeling
their age = who think their time is about
up, or that they are growing old. When Win
ston Churchill has birthday, then, it is a
worldwide event, reason for rejoicing the
world over May he have many, many more
= amid the plaudits and appreciation of a
world for whom he did so much, sometimes
with so little, in such critical time.
THE AIR AGE
A company announced recently that is
would begin manufacturing autogiro's in
mass form soon and that by some time in 49,
62, or the following year, reasonably priced
air vehicle of this kind would be on the mar
ket
An autogiro, as we understand it, is diff
ferent from helicopter. For one thing, it is
very safe. It's motor can cut off and the We
hicle nevertheless glides to earth even
from high attitudes = and does not crash.
There are other differences.
But the point of this editorial is to show
that the air age has been slow in arriving =
for the private fier. 1t is here all right, as
far as the commercial jet liners are concern
ed. They have brought all parts of the world
together and what can be done today by the
travelling executive, aboard the jets, is won
derful
But the average private f1ier is still using