isa-normaladvance-1903-00103

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE.103to disobey this law for the simple reason that theydid not have the money to continue it. One ofthe causes for such a state of affairs was the reduction of the state levy and the advance of thelocal tuition tax to its limit. After all the lengthof term has not increased sufficiently to justify theword profession.In making a study of the tables of teacherscompensation, it is found that in 1899 in thetownships the average daily wages was $2.02 andin the towns, $2.40, making a general average of$2.21. For 145 days this would make the yearlyincome of the professor about $320.45. In 1889the average pay in the townships, towns andcities was $2.11, while in 1879 it was only $1.82.In 1901 it reached $341.90 per year. There hasbeen a constant increase in teachers averagewages, it is true, but the teachers as a class farebut little better now than in 1879. This increasein the average is due to the multiplicity of highschool teachers and superintendents whose salaries, being in a larger ratio to those of the commonschool teachers, show an increase in the wages ofall teachers. The rural teachers and the gradedteachers are paid but little more than.they weretwo decades ago.The teachers wage law and the law requiringa term of six months have probably raised theaverage wages yet from some cause, althoughthe local tuition fund is as high as it can be raisedin many counties, some schools can not be maintained for six months. This law has made nowonderful advance along the line of compensationfor the town and, district teachers.The statement, that the yearly salary of theteacher the country over was about $260, wasmade at the last State Association by good authority. Get such an average of the lawyers, doctors,ministers, mechanics or engineers and see whereour so-called profession stands. How can a, person with an income of $340 a year call his business a profession when it occupies scarcely one-half of his time, although it does demand professional skill! How can he be expected to devotehis whole time and energy to it when he receivespay for not half of his work? How can he beexpected to follow it for subsistence alone besidesinvesting any capital or his surplus in knowledge ?If he were stingy—and we confess that manyare, or rather, have to be—he might be able to livecomfortably off his income, but that is not all.He constantly receives stimuli from all quartersto keep abreast of the times, to attend school, andto attain a higher level. These are all good a.ndthings that every teacher should do, but it is notso easily accomplished with such an income. Alarge majority of those now attending school in ourstate, preparator3r to teaching, look at every dollartwice before they spend it. This practice may beridiculed but it is a necessity. Many a student because his soul is in the work is sacrificing his all togain an education. This is proof of the fact thatthe teaching business is a noble vocation, for whenChrist had chosen his disciples He said, Provideneither gold, nor silver nor brass in your purses nor script for your journey, neither two coats,neither shoes, nor yet staves.Nor is this all. Teachers usually have an anticipation every spring of moving and in ninecases out of ten, if the political or religious tideis turned, he is forced to seek employment elsewhere and this is usually after many of the placesare filled. This adds greatly to his expenses andconstantly keeps his nose to the grindstone. Lookat our teachers of the towns and districts whohave been faithful to the calling for twenty yearsor more. It may be argued that they have madeno effort to attain greater heights. This may betrue, we admit, to a certain extent, yet misfortunes of various kinds are not so easily healedwhere the salary is not flattering. Look at them.Let two decades of experience speak. Many cangive good reports along this line, but many timesthat number cannot. Are they living as comfortably as their neighbor lawyer, doctor, or countytreasurer or auditor, who devote only about fouror eight years to their work ? No nor is theteacher able to live on his yearly salary withoutfarming, seeking agencies or other desirable tasksduring his long summer vacation.But we should not enumerate defects unless wehave good substitutes to correct those evils. This
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/33868
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

Further information on this record can be found at its source.