Now that this campaign for increasing the salaries of teachers is waging, how many are voicing the sentiments of the gentleman whose letter to one of our newspapers was published recently? He says that the teachers are "very liberally paid for their short hours and comparatively easy work. They are subject to no physical fatigue and their mental strain is over only a few hours of the day." Or, how many people of our city maintain an attitude of absolute indifference? In sharp contrast to these two classes is another whose interests in the movement have been keenly aroused and who are now working for the betterment of our whole school system. To which of these

classes do you belong?

In other cities, those outside of Pennsylvania, an increase in salary has been given to the teachers several times in the past few years. For example, in Cleveland from 1915 to 1918 elementary teachers' salaries show an increase graded up to about 30 per cent with a maximum salary of $1600. In New York, salaries show an increase graded up to about 15 per cent with a maximum of $1920. In Chicago, the increase is from 9 per cent to 14 per cent with a maximum of $1500.

In Philadelphia, teachers have had no increase in salary since 1914. There are in this city 7136 school teachers, principals, and clerks. They receive yearly a salary of $6,476,330, an average of $907.54. The elehentary teacher's salary to begin with is $600. st think of it! Could you live today on $600 year? Each year the teacher receives an inse in salary. Do you know what that in

Repr

e is? It is a princely sum, $3 per teach

ing month or $30 per year for five years; and then, if she qualifies, $50 per year. After ten years of hard work, she obtains her maximum, $1000. If she is fortunate and is assigned a grammar grade, in ten years' time she will receive a maximum of $1100.

Let us consider what is expected of this teacher in our elementary schools. She must be alert, enthusiastic, able to hold the attention of 35 to 65 children for the full five hours' time. She must read, attend lectures, and study. She must be able to teach adequately and well at least ten branches and at the same time to discipline many and various temperaments. She has in addition a vast amount of clerical work to perform in connection with reports, roll sheets, attendance cards, and truant slips. Lessons must be planned for two weeks ahead of time; a program for the day's work must be in readiness; a great number of papers must be corrected and marks registered. And what does she receive for this amount of work, Mr. Citizen? Suppose you had labored faithfully for five years would you think that you were sufficiently paid if you received a salary of $750 or even $850?

There are

Here is another item of interest. in our schools about four hundred janitors and engineers. They receive an average pay of $1453.50 from which must be deducted the amount spent for supplies and help. Even considering this, however, the usual pay of a janitor is considerably more than that of a teacher. Without reference as to whether janitors are suitably compensated or not-is this fair?

Let us have a few more figures in compari

son.

The bonus paid to teachers in 1918 was $5 per month for ten months 5.5 per cent of their salary. The bonus paid to janitors in 1918 was 13 per cent of their pay and supplies. The bonus declared for janitors covering the period to December 31, 1919 is 15 per cent of their salaries and supplies.

"Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom." Our children are our future citizens. They must be taught. Their training, moral, physical, mental, is largely in the hands of the teacher. They are directly under her care for at least five hours a day. She is entirely responsible for them during that time and much is expected of her. Are not her services worth much more to us than we are paying at present?

Let us finish our Biblical quotation, "And with all thy getting get understanding." If you think the salaries are high, look into the real conditions. If you do not feel interested, investigate so as to get understanding. If you are interested, then work for the makers of our future citizens of Philadelphia.

JUST A POSSIBLE ECONOMY

The city's printing bill for the year 1919 will probably be not less than $400,000. This is a guess, based on the consumption of the commodity in years past. It is costly,

isn't it?

The Philadelphia Commercial Museum finds it advisable to do all its own printing. The amount of its work is relatively small, in comparison with the official city work-but it figures that its saving is not less than 30 per cent with more satisfactory service.

How about a little standardization in printing, through the medium of a city print shop?

BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL RESEARCH

JAN CITIZENS BUSINES

January 16, 19

But let us not be so hypocritical as to assume tha every citizen is a student of the intricate mechanic of government.

Public opinion is not spontaneous-especially o technical issues. It will respond, but it must b given time.

These days of activity along the line charter revision have brought out some wh some and interesting discussion, and thro out the legislative session we shall doub be treated to a substantial volume of orat and a goodly quantity of printed matter r tive to the changes proposed for Phila phia's government.

An interesting turn has been given to preliminary skirmishing by one of the influ tial political leaders, in an interview in wh he declared that the adoption or rejection any measures advocated would depend whether a given proposal was desired by t people.

This is precisely what ought to determine if we really believe in democracy.