112
NORMAL.
NORMAL.
TEACHER'S SALARY.
A question which has often been asked, but practically remains unanswered to-day; a question of vital importance to teachers what is the cause, or the causes, which place the teacher's salary far below that of the average mechanic or artisan? Our State is a prosperous one; we are fast becoming wealthy; and with these facts known to all there should be no reason why Kansas can not pay her teachers a fair compensation for their labor, but it is a well known fact that such in general is not the case.
One among the chief causes is that there is a surplus of teachers, hence a scramble for situations, and like every other commodity, when the supply exceeds the demand, as a natural result the price must come down.
There is only one effectual remedy, and I think the Legislature made a good beginning in this direction when it remodled the school laws the last time-raised the necessary qualifications to get a permit to teach, etc. The Legislature did well and is to be commended for its very excellent work, but we are sorry that it stopped so soon in such a good cause. When this has been accomplished, Kansas will be better supplied in two directions at last—fewer poor pedagogues and more good farmers.
Another cause of equal, if not of more importance, and especially in district schools, is that school boards do not take into consideration the quality of the article so much as they do the price which they pay. A favorite reply to the teacher who asks for fair wages is this, "Oh, any one can teach our school; it don't amount to
much, and we can't afford to pay a fancy price in our school." My friends of the school board, if you chance to see this, and I hope that many of you will, get over this as soon as possible, and realize that right in this place is where you need the experienced teacher to lay sure the broad foundation for future education. Practically not one of this class of men will follow this line of argument in regard to any of his property. He wants the best. When a man builds a house he looks around for the best mechanic in the country, and pays his price. He prunes, ties up, and with a watchful eye guards his young orchard, but for the sake of a few dollars will carelessly allow bent and crooked twigs to grow under his own roof—just where the profit is in this kind of a transaction I am at loss to say.
One argument among the more illiterate is that the teacher gets enough at the present rates—they make remarks about "nothing to do,""fine clothes,'""farm hands at $16 per month,'""six hours a day,' and so on, and finally offer you $30.00 or $35.00 per month. Such argument as this needs no comment, but it does need a great deal of public sentiment "to sit down on it."
Teachers' associations, etc., have been organized and there is a constant tendency among them to improve themselves in every way possible for their work, but as long as wages remain as low as they are at present, the broader minds, the best intellects, will leave the ranks in which the State most needs them and seek more lucrative employment which can readily be obtained by one who has fitted himself to teach in the best of our Kansas schools.