USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1916-1920 > Part 16
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We feel that the time is near when a motor truck should be provided for the Mittineague station, especially
74
as the territory served by that company is rapidly ex- tending.
EXPENDITURES
Springfield Auto Headquarters, re-
pairs, $134.44
G. E. Blanchard, repairs, 15.00
Herbert E. Meany, repairs, 50.00
Stevens, Duryea Co., repairs, 26.23
J. F. Barry, coal, 6.10
C. D. Farnsworth, coal, 77.00
Springfield Gas Light Co., gas,. . .
2.49
Agawam Electric Co., light,.
16.53
Trether Fire Equipment Co., sup- plies, 9.44
C. W. Hastings, supplies,
21.35
Uneeda Tire Exchange Co., tires, .
43.61
T. A. Stebbins, tires,
50.00
Hewitt Rubber Co., hose,
755.00
O. C. Alderman, supplies, 2.75
Brown, Gates Co., supplies,
20.00
Meekins, Packard & Wheat, sup- plies, 6.48
Tuohey & Co., electricians,
16.50
E. A. Kellogg & Sons, supplies, . .
39.58
L. F. Hosmer, wood,
20.00
E. J. St. Louis, sawing wood,
3.50
Carlisle Hardware Co., supplies, .
10.75
J. L. Burke, labor, 13.05
Philip Jasmin, services,
10.00
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Leonard Houghton, repairs, .75
W. H. Porter, supplies, 3.50
J. A. Roy, supplies, 1.03
N. G. King, wood, 7.00
Agawam firemen,
170.00
Mittineague firemen,
190.00
Feeding Hills firemen,
200.00
$1,922.08
Appropriation,
$2,000.00
J. A. ROY, W. H. PORTER, J. H. KERR,
Commissioners.
76
REPORT OF
Board of Water Commissioners
-
The Board of Water Commissioners respectfully pre- sents the fifteenth annual report of the department cov- ering operations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1918.
RECEIPTS
Received from water rents and
meter rentals, $7,985.22
Received for connections and ma- terial, 1,197.70 .
$9,182.92
EXPENDITURES
Maintenance
City of Springfield, water, 3,492.37
City of Springfield, supplies, 5.95
Crane Co., pipe, etc., 326.71
E. A. Kellogg & Sons, supplies, . . 43.25
James L. Tighe, engineer, . 364.60
Chapman Valve Co., supplies, ... 345.90
C. W. Hull, Jr., labor and supplies, 145.84
77
C. W. Hull, Jr., freight, 15.19
Pond-Ekberg Press, printing,
30.25
Postage,
40.00
Agawam Electric Co., thawing pipes, 171.60
D. M. Crowley, Superintendent,
738.50
D. M. Crowley, team,
363.00
G. H. Reed, secretary,
28.68
W. C. Johnson, reading meters,
35.45
D. F. Crowley, labor, 246.00
Joseph Crowley, labor,
91.50
Howard Wilson, labor,
7.50
Jerry Grady, labor,
45.00
John Finn, labor,
82.50
John Finn, Jr., labor,
1.50
Charles Nelson, labor,
1.50
John Griffin, labor,
39.00
Fortune Bouley, labor,
39.00
Alphonse Bouley, labor,
64.50
Louis Belasky, labor,
9.00
Charles Miller, labor,
18.00
Interest account,
1,192.93
$7,985.22
Construction
Crane & Co., supplies,
39.25
City of Springfield, supplies,
6.90
National Meter Co., meters,
1,250.00
C. W. Hastings, supplies, .
6.82
D. M. Crowley, Superintendent,
84.00
D. M. Crowley, team,
36.00
Charles Miller, labor,
66.00
D. F. Crowley, labor,
72.00
John Finn, labor,
78.00
78
Frank Menard, labor,
54.00
Howard Wilson, labor,
63.00
George Provost, labor, 51.00
John Griffin, labor, 52.50
James Collins, labor, 63.00
Louis Belaski, labor,
39.00
John Sherman, labor,
45.00
Fred Sherman, labor,
48.00
Steve Jendrucek, labor,
51.00
Arfond Gamanche, labor,
27.00
John James, labor,
15.00
Frank Scetela, labor,
15.00
C. H. Fink, labor,
9.00
$2,171.47
E. A. KELLOGG,
D. M. CROWLEY,
G. H. REED,
Commissioners.
79
Agawam Public Schools
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD
J. ARSENE ROY, Chairman, . . Term expires 1921 Post Office address, Mittineague, Mass.
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Secretary, Term expires 1920 Post Office address, Feeding Hills, Mass.
HARRY P. HINCKLEY, Purchasing Agent, Term expires 1919
Post Office address, Agawam, Mass.
Superintendent of Schools
WALTER E. GUSHEE,
Post Office address, Ludlow, Mass.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1919-1920
School Year, 38 Weeks
Fall term, September 8 to December 19,. .15 weeks
Winter term, December 29 to March 19, 12 weeks
Spring term, March 29 to June 11, 11 weeks
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Agawam:
Owing to the rapid increase in the school enrollment, we wish to call your attention to the need of additional school accommodations in the Agawam part of the town. When the new two-room addition was opened at Agawam Center, it was supposed that ample provision had been made to care for the normal increase of the school pop- ulation there for several years. But we already find each room at the Center School well filled, and the registers show a total enrollment of about two hundred and sev- enty-five children.
Several suggestions have been made looking toward a feasible solution of the problem. Last year we sug- gested the erection of a new and larger modern school building near the site of the present South Street school, believing that such a building would furnish improved school facilities for the south part of Agawam and the River Road, and would at the same time relieve future congestion at thte Center. This year we find a marked increase in our school population in the Meadow Street section of our town. This territory, situated so near the southern part of Springfield, seems to be growing very
81
rapidly at present. Consequently it has been suggested that the town consider the erection of a two-room school in that locality, so located that it could also provide for a part of the River Road pupils.
Eventually, as the town develops, modern school buildings may be necessary in both the South Street and Meadow Street sections. The present situation demands immediate action on the part of the voters of the town, in order that the increasing school population may be properly provided for at the earliest possible moment.
During the past year the adjoining towns and cities have granted their teachers a substantial increase in sala- ry. We raised the pay of our prinripals and made some few minor changes in our salary schedule made necessary by the new State law fixing the minimum wage for teachers, but aside from that we made no increase in salaries. Ow- ing to the uncertain conditions existing during the period of the war, we deemed it wiser to grant to each teacher remaining with us throughout the school year, a bonus ; part to be paid about mid-year and the balance in June, 1919. For the past year we have been unable many times to find capable substitutes to place in our schools when regular teachers have been ill. The present scarc- ity of teachers appears to be due in a measure to the fact that the normal schools are no longer attracting the high school graduates. If we are to retain our best teachers or expect to replace those who leave our schools with competent successors we must be willing and able to make our salaries equal at least with those paid teachers in the surrounding towns.
The epidemic of influenza prevalent throughout the country made it necessary for us to close our schools for a period of six weeks. For several weeks after we re-
82
opened the attendance in some of our schools was very poor, due partly to a continuance of the disease and partly to the failure of parents to send their children. For the balance of the year we must have regular at- tendance, and we ask the cooperation of all parents toward that end. So much time has been lost and the work has been so seriously interrupted that we feel that we must insist that our teachers be unusually rigid in their re- quirements for promotion at the end of the year.
As you will notice by our financial report, we have finished the year well within our appropriation. This was due to a combination of circumstances and econo- mies. By closing our books somewhat earlier than in the past we had outstanding bills for 1918 still unpaid to the amount of about $1,500. The enforced period of vaca- tion in all schools in this section was responsible for a large saving to us for textbooks, supplies and transpor- tation. Furthermore, improvements that we had intend- ed to make we decided to postpone until a later date, which accounts for the smallest amount spent in years for new equipment.
We believe that our present teaching staff is secur- ing satisfactory results, and in closing our annual report, we ask for the hearty cooperation of the parents with them, the superintendent and the committee.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. ROY, C. M. GRANGER, H. P. HINCKLEY.
83
Financial Statement of Schools
GENERAL EXPENSE
Walter E. Gushee, Superintendent,. . $840.00
J. Arsene Roy, School Committee, . . 80.00
Clifford M. Granger, School Com- mittee, 150.00
Harry P. Hinckley, School Commit- tee, 75.00
J. DeForge, Attendance Officer, 10.00
K. W. Birk, Attendance Officer, 43.00
F. H. Campbell, Attendance Officer, Katherine G. Danahy, issuing labor certificates, 104.00
6.00
W. E. Gushee, postage, telephone express, . 32.13
H. P. Hinckley, telephone, 1.40
C. M. Granger, postage, telephone,. . 4.70
Sadie E. Smith, clerical assistance, . . 5.00
Theresa L. Custer, clerical assistance
15.00
Wright & Potter Printing Co.,
ledger leaves 4.12
$1,370.35
84
TEACHERS' SALARIES
H. L. Arnold, supervisor of drawing. $454.72
P. Hooper, supervisor of music . . .
555.71
L. E. S. Treichler, supervisor of Elocution 152.00
Kate Adams, teaching
798.57
Mary Kerr, teaching 636.79
Margaret Cochrane, teaching.
381.34
Teresa B. Lee, teaching
636.79
Sarah Wheaton, teaching
636.79
Lena Collis, teaching 636.79
Marguerite Chapin, teaching 357.19
Mary M. Begley, teaching
566.08
Katherine G. Danahy, teaching. 848.95
Etta Rosenberg, teaching
381.34
Ella R. Taylor, teaching
636.79
Jennie M. Lucas, teaching
636.79
Olive A. Fox, teaching
636.79
Julia F. Keenan, teaching 636.79
Catherine T. Powers, teaching. 560.10
Faolin M. Peirce, teaching 747.96
Mary A. Danaher, teaching
636.79
Hazel M. Sullivan, teaching
627.79
Anna B. Egan, teaching
82.90
Archibald Coldwell, teaching
484.15
Sadie E. Smith, teaching.
132.64
Theresa L. Custer, teaching 381.34
Katherine H. Janes, teaching 636.79
Cora E. Halladay, teaching
594.23
Hazel F. Williams, teaching
535.95
Mae H. Lewis, teaching
350.98
85
Lila Woodruff, teaching. 271.63
S. A. Cole, teaching
49.74
A. Taylor, teaching 16.58
K. H. Dwyer, teaching
15.00
Madrine L. Wood, teaching
490.10
Lillian Hayhurst, teaching
222.90
Edith R. Barr, teaching.
222.90
Clara V. Bennett, teaching.
24.00
Pauline Trowbridge, teaching
18.00
Edna B. Harmon, teaching
222.90
Olive C. Duguid, teaching
255.45
Hattie R. Bolton, teaching
222.90
Elsie M. Isherwood, teaching
235.02
Nellie Granfield , teaching
238.42
Madrine L. Wood, accompanist.
5.00
Alice M. Healy, assistant
10.50
-$17,882.88
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
J. L. Hammett Co., text books and
supplies
$11.85
Milton Bradley Co., supplies
276.89
H. W. Cowles, express.
9.38
The Cable Co., supplies
5.00
Ginn & Co., text books
83.93
Rand McNally & Co., text books .
61.36
K. G. Danahy, express
3.92
Edward E. Babb & Co., text books and supplies
310.23
American Book Co., text books
19.44
Silver Burdett & Co., text books.
4.92
J. A. Roy, express. .
1.29
Riverdale Press, text books
35.58
G. & C. Merriam Co., text books
42.00
Blodgett's Music Store, supplies
4.90
86
G. H. Blackburn, express . 2.21
Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, text
books
16.80
Little Brown & Co., text books 24.00
E. A. Merriam, text books 6.00
$919.70
OPERATING EXPENSES
Janitors
D. J. Bloom, janitor $560.00
C. H. Wood, janitor 535.00
E. Letellier, janitor. 540.00
K. W. Birk, janitor
360.00
W. A. Fairbanks, building fires and cleaning
37.35
Jas. Morris, building fires and clean- ing. 12.00
Chas. C. Wyman,building fires and cleaning
41.00
Mary M. Begley, care of room.
11.00
Marguerite Chapin, care of room.
11.00
Hazel F. Williams, care of room.
16.00
Edith R. Barr, care of room.
5.00
Edna B. Harmon, care of room
5.00
American Window Cleaning cleaning
Co.,
18.50
Elijah Young, cleaning.
7.00
S. C. Granger, sawing wood
2.25
Joseph St. Louis, sawing wood.
7.00
$2,168.10
87
FUEL
C. D. Farnsworth, Inc., coal $2,977.20
Nelson G. King, wood. 17.00
Springfield Gas Light Co., 25.51
F. M. West Box Co., wood.
6.50
Wallace H. Hastings, wood 9.00
L. F. Hosmer, wood. 20.00
W. H. Granger, wood
19.00
$3,074.21
MISCELLANEOUS
H. W. Carter Paper Co., supplies $95.25
Charles W. Hastings, supplies 9.58
D. E. F. Radasch, supplies. 97.50
Rand, McNally & Co., supplies
7.17
O. B. Dean, Jr., supplies.
4.95
Carlisle Hardware Co., supplies.
13.50
Agawam Electric Co., supplies and light .
13.89
S. B. Call & Sons, supplies
3.50
Central City Chemical Co., supplies. .
32.91
E. A. Kellogg & Sons, supplies
3.74
Forbes & Wallace, supplies.
11.00
Meekins, Packard & Wheat, supplies
9.98
Johnson's Bookstore, supplies.
14.50
F. C. Hinckley, boiler inspection.
16.00
C. W. Chittim, supplies.
.90
Faolin M. Peirce, supplies.
.38
A. H. Bartlett, supplies.
24.62
W. H. Granger, supplies
3.50
C. B. Dolge Co., supplies
27.50
Adams & Crockett, supplies
7.50
Joseph Borgetti, supplies.
10.92
88
C. M. Granger, supplies . 7.19
O. E. Davis & C. F. Hunt, engraving 7.75
M. Steinert & Sons Co., moving piano 7.00
Prudential Trust Co., diplomas . 24.50
J. A. Roy, rent of piano . 25.00
$480.23
MAINTENANCE
O. C. Alderman, supplies $6.78
T. M. Walker, supplies 10.52
Walsh Boiler & Iron Works, repairs supplies.
35.30
E. J. Demars, repairs
28.42
J. L. Burke, repairs and supplies .
25.84
W. J. Hyland Co., repairs and supplies
861.17
C. H. Wood, repairs and supplies . . .
47.17
E. M. White, repairs and supplies. .
49.40
Fred C. McClean, repairs
13.27
L. H. Scott & Co., repairs and supplies
64.85
J. J. Cotter Co., repairs and supplies. .
92.34
Geo. F. Pearson, repairs.
2.45
Stone-Underhill Co., supplies.
51.00
Agawam Electric Co., supplies
3.60
A. Dumond, repairs .
3.70
Meekins, Packard & Wheat, supplies
10.00
Old Corner Decorating Co., repairs.
76.04
Alice D. Cooley, supplies
11.00
Archibald Coldwell, supplies.
1.00
K. G. Danahy, supplies.
3.50
H. P. Hinckley, supplies .
8.60
The Tuohey Co., supplies
5.05
$1,411.00
HEALTH
J. W. Hastings, medical inspection. . . $125.00
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TRANSPORTATION
Springfield Street Railway
$1,484.80
Town of Ludlow 8.50
Kate Adams . 22.40
Katherine Danahy
11.23
James Cleary.
168.00
Felix De Palma.
112.00
Anthony Mercadante.
98.00
William Halladay
142.50
Abraham Labowitz
70.00
Lee Jenks.
91.20
Dwight Bailey
140.00
Edgar Statkum.
168.00
Charles Calabrese.
140.00
James Cesan
233.25
Fred Dudley
134.40
Audrea Grasso.
266.00
$3,290.28
TUITION
Town of West Springfield
$6,251.50
City of Springfield, Vocational
School. 130.00
City of Springfield, Central High School. 187.50
City of Springfield, Commercial High School 135.00
City of Springfield, Technical High School . 420.00
City of Springfield, Junior High School. 401.25
$7,525.25
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OUTLAYS
Milton Bradley Co., furniture $41.25
SUMMARY OF ALL EXPENSES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
General expenses
$1,370.35
Teaching salaries
17,882.88
Text books and supplies
919.70
Expense of operating
5,722.54
Maintenance
1,411.00
Tuition
7,525.25
Health
125.00
Transportation
3,290.28
Outlays.
41.25
$38,288.25
AVAILABLE FOR ALL PUROPSES
General appropriation $41,000.00
Received from State on account of
Superintendent of Schools . ... 500.00
Received from State for tuition of Vocational School
243.75
City of Springfield, refund on tuition bills
89.61
Spr ngfield Street Railway, refund on car tickets
285.24
Sale of car tickets.
16.62
Sale of books . 75
$42,135.97
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Superintendent's Report
School Committee of Agawam: -
Gentlemen :- I hereby submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1918.
TEACHING FORCE
The following changes have beeen made in the teach- ing force since the writing of my last annual report:
Resignations
Etta Rosenberg, Mittineague, Grade VI. Margaret Cochrane, Agawam Center, Grade VI. May H. Lewis, Agawam Center, Grades II, III. Archibald Coldwell, Feeding Hills, Principal. Sadie E. Smith, Feeding Hills, Grades VI, VII. Theresa L. Custer, Feeding Hills, Grades IV, V. Katherine Janes, Feeding Hills, Grades I, II. Josephine Small, Springfield St. School, Grades I, II. Hazel Fowler Williams, South School.
Marguerite Chapin, Suffield Street School.
Transfers
Anna Powers, Mittineague, Room 6 to Mittineague, Room 5.
Cora E. Halladay, Feeding Hills Grades II, III to III, V.
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Hazel Fowler, West St. School to South School.
Mary Begley, South School to Agawam Center Grade II. Madrine L. Wood, Feeding Hills, Grade VII to Prin- cipalship.
Appointments
Nellie T. Granfield, Mittineague, Grade VII.
Lillian M. Hayhurst, Agawam Center, Grade VI.
Madrine L. Wood, Feeding Hills, Grade VII.
Hattie Bolton, Feeding Hills, Grade VII.
Olive C. Duguid, Feeding Hills, Grade III. Elsie M. Isherwood, Springfield St., Grade II.
Edna B. Harmon, West Street School.
Edith Barr, Suffield Street School.
Mary C. Worthington, South School.
Mabel D. Allen, Feeding Hills, Grades I, II.
ENROLLMENT
Number of pupils attending public high schools :
West Springfield, 81
Springfield Technical High, 9
Springfield High School of Commerce, 3
Springfield Central High, 4
State Street Junior High, 9
Total in public high schools, 104
Attending public grade schools of town,
858
Attending Springfield Vocational School, 1
Total in all public schools, 963
93
Attending St. Williams Parochial School, .. 139 Attending Cathedral High School of Springfield, 7
Total in private schools,
146
Total number attending all schools,
1,109
Increase during year in public grade schools, .... 34 Increase during year in public high school enrollment, 3
High School Pupils by Precincts :
Agawam, 43
Feeding Hills, 30
Mittineague, 33
Mittineague (attending Cathedral High) 7
GRADUATION
The three grammar schools, as on the two previous years, united for graduation exercises in June. The ex- ercises were held in the hall of the Mittineague building. The program consisted of recitations and singing by the children, under the direction of Mrs. Treichler, teacher of elocution, and Miss Hooper, supervisor of music. Miss Danahy, principal of the Mittineague School, was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. J. A. Roy, chairman of the school committee, presented the diplomas to the following graduates :
Agawam Precinct
John M. Schwartz Rebecca E. Cesan
Lillian S. Younge
Perley Godfrey
Amelia C. Jackowski
Almina LaFleur
O. Delos Baker
94
Feeding Hills
Mary E. Ling
Robert Hawthorne
Malcolm Wingord
Mary Lynch
Mittineague
Mary Fruwirth Charles Consolati
Wesley Colson
Edward Costa
Amelia Cebrelli
Raymond Roberts
Since graduation day the following pupils have qual- ified for high school:
Feeding Hills
Elizabeth Leonard
Elvera Anderson
Elizabeth Safford Ruth Tilden
FORCED CLOSING
The influenza epidemic closed the schools for six weeks. This happened at the time of the year when we would naturally be doing our best work, and, doubtless is the most serious disaster that has ever befallen our schools. For a long time after reopening, many children could not return on account of sickness, or sickness in their families, and many were not allowed to return on account of anxiety of parents. The attendance has never been so poor. There has been among teachers, parents, pupils, and all concerned with the schools, a general low- ering of morale; and not until now, four months after the breaking out of the epidemic, do we seem to be get- ting back to something like normal conditions. Progress has, necessarily, been much retarded. We are a month or six weeks behind where we would be ordinarily at this time in the year. We are lengthening the school day. Pupils are expected to do more home work. Teachers
95
are working with backward children outside of school hours. We are shortening vacations, and are planning on extending the school year two weeks. We are doing · all we can to make up for lost time. We bespeak the co- operation of the parents to the end that the year may count for a complete year's work in spite of our handicap.
THE SALARY QUESTION
During the last few years the teachers' salaries have been increased, but the increase has not kept pace with the increased cost of living, nor has it anywhere near ap- proached the rate of increase in other lines of work.
Dr. Payson Smith, Commissioner of Education "in view of the wide-spread interest in securing suitable sal- aries for teachers" is sending to teachers throughout the State questionaires concerning their salaries, expendi- tures and savings. I have received these forms with the request that I ask ten teachers, selecting those who are boarding "with strangers," to fill them out. Seven tea- chers in my district have filled out and returned to me their blanks.
This exhibit shows that one of the seven saved, out of her yearly income from all sources, $5.00. Another saved $100, another $50. The remaining four were obliged to draw upon earnings of previous years, or bor- row from relatives, their expenditures exceeding their earnings. In regard to the three who were able to save something out of their incomes, two of them worked through the summer vacation, one of these had a small income from another source. Only one teacher out of the seven reporting was able to live on her salary as a
96
teacher, and make both ends meet. This teacher had $5.00 to show for her year's work.
May I present another phase of the situation? With- in the last year ten teachers have left the schools of Aga- wam. It has been difficult to find others to take their places. Our custom has been to visit schools in smaller and outlying sections for the purpose of recruiting teach- ers for our schools. During several trips last Spring I visited many schools in the Berkshire towns and other rural sections with this object in view. Not one of the teachers visited, who gave evidence of being successful in her work could be induced to make a change. Our sal- ary schedule did not interest them. We have been forced to employ, for the most part, teachers without previous experience or ·training.
These conditions prevail throughout the country and will seriously affect the standing of our schools unless something is done to induce teachers to remain in the service, and also to encourage young people to prepare themselves for teaching. The enrollment in our normal schools is rapidly falling off. Is this to be wondered at when our high school graduates with no special training or with a few additional months at some commercial school, can secure positions paying higher salaries than the salaries received by the teachers who trained them ?
It isn't that I am so much concerned about the teachers. They will be provided for. Our solicitude is for the chil- dren, and the welfare of the schools. Unless there be a substantial increase in the salary schedule of our teachers our schools will, necessarily, suffer.
It is, doubtless, true that these are emergency con- ditions, and that different conditions will prevail later. But emergency conditions must be met by emergency
97
methods. The government and business houses met these conditions by increasing the pay of their employees. Schools, in order to hold their employees and maintain the standard of their work, must resort to similar meth- ods and make the salary increase of teachers commen- surate with the salary increase in industries and other positions.
Our Commissioner of Education is recommending a minimum salary of $750 for teachers in this State. It is possible that the General Court of Massachusets will en- act such legislation during the present session. Towns that advance their salary schedules before compelled to do so by the state law, will have an advantage over other towns.
A government of unenlightened citizenship is doomed to autocracy or bolshevism. America will never submit to the former. Let us make this country safe from the latter by safeguarding the work of our schools, the bul- wark of democracy.
It is possible that this report may come under the eye of some teacher who is considering the matter of seeking other employment, or it may come to the atten- tion of some young people who are trying to decide what career they will elect. May I say for their benefit, that teaching has its advantages, and there are weighty rea- sons why the successful teacher should continue with her chosen work, and why many girls upon completing high school would do well to fit themselves for positions as teachers.
1st. There is a scarcity of teachers. There will be increasing demand for well-trained and efficient teachers.
98
2nd. The teacher is bound to receive better pay for her services. An enlightened and patriotic public senti- ment is not going to take any chances on the lowering of educational standards. The war has made every one realize more than ever the great value of our American schools. From now on, far more will be done to increase their efficiency. The best is none too good for those who are being trained for future American citizens.
3rd. There is the satisfaction that comes from real- izing that you are engaged in an essential, and noble work. There is, today, no higher calling, than that of the teach- er. There is no greater or more patriotic service to our country than the service rendered by the earnest and ef- ficient teacher. Our military forces have helped to make the world safe for democracy. It rests upon the teachers to make democracy safe for the world.
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