2

the size of the percentage. Emergency teachers are also employed in
city schools, both elementary and high schocls. Many cities are using
emergency appointees wh« would doubtless not qualify for teaching
according to usually approved standards. Certainly one may speculate
on the probability that more adequate salaries would have enabled
schools to retain many of the experienced and competent teachers which
they have lost. The school systems which pay their teachers above

the present average are not the ones which employ emergency teachers
or have depleted staffs. Reasonably competent men and women are not
compelled now to submit to grave underpayment for school service
bewause of the absence of other economically better opportunities.

Table I. Teachers! Salaries in Flementery Schools of Kansas, 1944-45

Groups based on Number of Median selary Middle fifty per-

types of school teachers per month cent of monthly
salaries

One-teacher 2127 $125.00 #107.00--$134.00

(8 month basis)

Two-or-more-teacher 1223 139.00 126.00-- 152.00
(9 month basis)

City schcols 1274 166.00 146.00-- 187.00
(9 month basis)

In Table I, 'city schools' means those in cities of the first or
second class. Two-or-more teacher. schosls are inclusive of those in
cities of the third cle:s. Tne median (expressed to nearest doklar) is
used aS the average or .ypical salary for each group of teachers. The
median splaries for this year are $20.00, $14.00, and #22.00 higher than
in the year 1943-44 for the respective groups as listed in Table I.

There is an obvious contrast between the typical (median) salaries
in the three groups of teachers as indicated. But more striking contrasts
exist between different schools of the same type in the same county or
between the median salaries in neighboring counties. As for example, in
two counties in the southeastern part of the state, the median salary of
teachers in one room schools is $25.00 higher in one than in the other
county. In the northwestern portion of the state, less than five percent
of the rural teachers in one county are paid as much as $120.00 per
month this year (some as low as $80.00). In a near-by county, all but
five percent of the rural teachers receive $120.00 of more (up to $210.00
per month). Some small graded schcols are paying no teacher less than
$185.00 per month; others pay no teacher more than $100.00. In city
elementary schools, eighteen teachers are paid less than $105.00 per
month this year -- sixteen of these are in one city sf the second class.

Perhaps there are definite advantages in designating individual school
systems in the state which have 4 commendable policy and practice relative
to school salaries (and there are some). Also, counties or communities
which pay very inferior salaries might be named, But it is net the purpose
of this study to identify schocls in relation to salaries paid ner to explain
the situation found, but tc disclose what are the prevailing practices.