An Apple for the Teacher

The long arms of Total War Mobilization have yet to encompass public educational problem number one. TWM's right arm, the War Manpower Commission, apparently is oblivious to the fact that there is a critical shortage of teachers. Congress, on the other hand, recognizes the fact, but so far has done nothing. Meanwhile, 39,000 teachers have either enlisted or have been drafted; another 37,000 have stopped teaching to accept more highly paid positions in private industry.

Teaching standards in practically all schools, public and private, have been seriously lowered by the recall of retired teachers and the issue of emergency teaching certificates to inexperienced persons. With teachers allocating themselves out of the educational scene, an all-time high for rural school closings has been reached. A 22.2 per cent decrease in, teachers college enrollment gives little hope that they will be able to bridge the gap. In Illinois alone over one thousand schools have closed. Mississippi officials report that if teachers continue to leave at the present rate, 30 to 40 per cent of the schools in the state will close.

Two remedial steps should be taken; neither has been. A bonus should be offered to neutralize the magnetism of high war time wages in industry and the draft status of teachers should be defined. This first step was suggested by Senators Hill and Thomas but action has not been taken. The needs of public education are sufficiently pressing so that the draft status of teachers should be clarified immediately. The objectives of public education and of Total War Mobilization, different as they seem, are not incompatible.