a0

Among the (95) elenentery terchers whe have no colleve degree are
warious stages of preparation. Some of these individuals claim as much
ng 117 hours of college credit. The average salary of this group

is $146.00, which is eight dollars per month less than the averege
salary paid to 179 teachers in the same schools who have a baccalaureate
degree. Possession of 5 master's degree by 118 high school teachers

is eccompanied by $27.00 higher average salary per month than is paid
to 149 teachers in the same schools who are credited with only a
bachelor's degree.

Partial comparisons can be made with the teacher salary situation as
reported for Kansas 4 year ago. There is evidence of a definite change
in the right direction. The average monthly salary of elementary teachers
this year is $27.00 higher in one-tbeacher schools end ¢25,00 higher

sn -tyo-or-more teacher schools than in 1942-43. For high school
teachers in third class cities and rural high schools the average pay
per month appears bo be $30.00 higher. On a twelve-month basis the
monthly compensation of high school principals is equivalent to what
was reported a year &go on 4 ten-month basis. This means 4 twenty

per cent nddition to the stated salary of 1942-43. These increases
apply to gravely inadequate teaching salaries of a year ages

Facts are not available for this comparison of the salaries of either
elementary or high school teachers in cities of first and second

class in the two years indicated. Nor can com arisons be made relative
to the other positions as reported in Table Il of this report.

As the schools represent those purposes which make a global war

seem justifiable, and as “worldwide depression and worldwide war haye
revealed the need for 4 far more comprehensive program of education
in the future," society must be made more aware of the great
importance attacned to the preparation, selection and compensation

of its teachers. Many teachers seam to achieve the impossible on
very meager salaries, but no one recommends this as a desirable
formula for maintaining cither high teaching morale or quality of
opportunity for thet large fraction of our population enrolled in
public schools.

 

3Teachers Salaries and the Puolic Welfare. N.E.A. Research
Bulletin, December, 1943.