While the salary for teaching is not as great as one would probably receive in commercial lines, nevertheless there are other rewards that tend to make teaching attractive. In the first place, there is apt to be more permanency in a teaching position than in a commercial position. Teachers are not easily dismissed without cause. Hours are shorter, thus giving regular opportunity for exercise in the open air. In most States neither dissatisfaction of pupil nor parents is cause for dismissal of the teachers. In many States, too, if the schools are ordered closed, the salaries of teachers must go on in full. The rather long vacations in teaching give opportunity for travel or study or work, as one may elect.
Social insurance is rapidly being provided for teachers. Pension systems for city school teachers started in Chicago in 1893. At the present time there are 21 State pension systems, while 4 other States have laws permitting local organizations to set up pension plans. In addition to the State systems there are 64 city and county systems in operation. Some of these systems are not satisfactorily worked out, but within the last few years a great deal of careful study has been given to this work. The movement for social insurance is recent but wide-spread and still growing. A total of 34 States are at present represented in this movement in either State systems or local systems within the State. Retirement in these systems is most frequently on the basis of 30-year service. In about six-sevenths of the systems the teachers contribute to the funds, most frequently 1 to 2 per cent of their salaries.
In schools reporting pension systems for teachers the average salary is $730 a year, while the average pension is $500 a year.
Finally, teaching is its own reward. For the person who likes children, who appreciates the social advantages of the profession, who wishes to make his life count greatly in the lives of other people, and who has an ambition to do something for the national service in a vital way, the profession of teaching should be attractive.
How Many Years Will It Take to Establish One’s Self in The Teaching Profession?
For men teachers the rate of advancement in salary varies greatly with different communities and with different personalities. The number of years of teaching necessary before the maximum salary is reached ranges from 6 to 15 years or more. Men continue to be advanced, however, by being promoted to principalships after their chances for further advancement as teachers are reduced to a minimum.
How Great Is The Need for Men Teachers?
At one time education in the United States was largely in the hands of men. At the present time it is largely in the hands of women. A tendency is growing to bring more men into the teaching profession. The demand for teachers is generally and greatly increased of late. The growth of high schools during the past generation has been very rapid. Twenty years ago there were 200,000 pupils enrolled in 2,500 high schools of our country, thus representing one in every 210 of the population. To-day there are approximately a million and a half pupils in approximately 15,000 high schools, representing one in every 66 of the population. In some localities one person in every 25 is enrolled in a secondary school of some sort. This expansion of the secondary schools of the United States has not yet ceased. There has been marked increase also in attendance at normal schools and colleges, but this increase, while great, has not been as rapid as the increase in high-school attendance. The very recent development of vocational training is adding to the demand for men in the teaching profession. It would seem, therefore, that the teaching profession would offer an attractive field for many of our returning soldiers, sailors, and marines.
Undoubtedly, the disabled soldier, sailor, or marine returning from this great war has a number of very great assets which he could market to advantage in educational work. Not the least among these is the advantage which he will enjoy over the civilian because of the natural admiration of young people for the soldier, sailor, or marine. With this as a start, other things being equal, his chances of success and of advancement as a teacher are very good.
The attitude of the community toward him will be one of respect and admiration. From this he can reap rich rewards in influence and friendships.