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Show 4 Sait Lake County , Utah Jhursday , May 21 , 1964 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVIEW Page 4 h ew6Se i Editorial i 'um ijwwMw.nvwwur'w ft j 'pijmi' 0) n 91 xoSa iBMtm W. Teachers , iVofe: fFe Spetri More Of Our Income Oh Education Than Any Other State (Continued from page 1 population. The expanse has been based largely on defense industries. This could be a house of sand since noone can guarantee their permanence. We must develop other basic industries if our growth is. to be maintained, and if we are able to afford even the education plant we have built today -without considering future needs. JV The State of Michigan guessed wrong and went bankrupt as a consequence. Teachers j ! there received no pay for several months -I not strike, however. they did Yet the committee admitted that education per capita were higher other state. our costa for than in any Yet the committee stated that the present salary differential for teachers Is the most favorable,, that has ever prevailed in Utah." Yet the committee stated that teacherfe salaries Yiow approximate both the national and Moun- Teachers do not have the same risks that other college graduates have in industry, thus an exact comparison is not possible. The argument that all our teachers will go to California if we dont match that states pay scale is fallacious. If it were true not only would all our teachers be leaving, but so would our engineers, machinists, policemen etc. We can afford only that which is within our ability to pay. tain States average." A shorter school year? Perhaps a longer Why did they ask for a special session? is the answer. Apparently, to put Utah in a position to be year able to afford the best and most qualified One major fault is our antique school To attract permanent industries takes to we But afford how are teachers? them: - we wont get them unless we have schedule. We once had a three month vacaI money take The committee tlvt up neglected J9 tion so that students could go out and harvest I good highways, adequate water supplies, decent question. Instead of findid!ranswers the comI sewage disposal, etc. crops. We dont see too many students picking beans The Governor knows this - do the rest0 mittee precipitated a crisis. hi eight months this committee should have in the summer nowadays. of us? Do the officials of the UEA? done more. It should have reached some solid We should pay teachers on the basis of a 'Apparently not, as evidenced by John Evans beratement of the Governor for a proposal conclusions. Were they under duress from the twelve month schedule; at the same time we UEA? We leave this to conjecture. should hold schooLfor at least eleven months. to bring water from the Arctic, which is a - The busiest action for the Governor would As a result of our pypsent system pupils that could provide rather brilliant proposal have been to call that special session. Those ! a vast supply of water to Utah. have little to do in the summer and cant who would have critized him for doing so, find jobs or useful employment. But the officials of the UEA, and apparanlly I not are with the nearly report, especially I many of the teachers, see nothing but the as well organized, vocal or powerful as the i immediate needs of the schools - mostly We liave made substantial investments in UEA. He would have been a hero to many, teachers salaries. outlay for plant and equipment in This is alright - people who feel rather and could simply have passed the hot potato capital schools. Any ebusiness that made this kind to the legislature. I strongly about their own particular causes have of investment and used it only 75 of the The Governor, however, has one disadvanthe right to express their ideas but not the taxpayers. year would be considered insane. I when their limited vision is backed up by tage. He has a responsibility to of It is hard to fight such a tradition, He carries the direct charge I the kind of considering power the UEA wields over the our overall welfare, growth and prosperity. but a full school year would substantially I of the state of Utah. taxpayers reduce the problem. " I This is noftfte Governors fight - its yours. He must, in the final analysis, determine and Thus, it is hard to understand why the how to maintain the states economy k Thg UEA is using the Governor for target UEA recommended reducing the school year -financial integrity. J practice - its the taxpayer on whom the and their statement that they do so for the UEA is really taking aim. The school study committee does not have sake of the children. this responsibility. Neither does the UEA. This is why the Governor bucked the tide. His Tlte Governors Committee conscience dictated his refusal to call an emergency session to ask the legislature to consider one item and one item onlyN f There has been a tendency to accept the in-We believe he was right in refusing, and the Utah: Why A Test Case? terim report of the School Study Committee as committee was wrong in advising it at this point. gospel simply because it was a supposedly "blue ribbon" group. f This committee made a grave error in issuing The Citizens And The Schools The NEA, seems to be making a test case this kind of an interim report of Utah. The main reason Governor Clyde did not Why? call the special session of the legislature Teachers should know that Utahns desAdmittedly we have much to accomplish. last year is because he realized that thirs one perately want high quality education for their We ask: in cannot be considered education children. question Why did the NEA decide to pick on the one a vacuum. Further improvements will cost They should also know that most Utahns state that spends more of its personal income on arent convinced that just more jnoney or - education than any other? money which should - be spent, but expendi-- r tures should be considered in context, as they simple across-the-boa- rd inc re a seswtl3 acWhy did the NEA decide to single out relate to all the other needs of this state complish this need. Utah for action now, after the legislature of funds. also requiring Advancement on the basis of better qualifiBy way metaphor has a to son cost in the just passed the largest appropriation ever $2.00 it may only buy your cation or greater training is a step for education? of lock-stea wants or needs but pair new book he p increases based I right direction. But shoes may come first, toward which tht$2.00 on seniority do not insure quality. Dedication Why did the NEA decide to create a test situation will be of great help. Thus the response cant be purchased. and in a state which has unusual that the committees recommendation of $6 The establishment of a merit system for growth problems? million is only $6.00 for every person in teachers would be ideal. However, most t the state is superfluous.' the as mediocre We teachers regard it are not able to answer these questions, poison. For He asked the committee to study the question teacher, the job is an easy one. For the but we believe that' the citizens of Utah in this regard, for some reason thy didnt. inspired dedicated teacher it is more than should give them serioua thought. We suspect that the NEA feels they have They lobked at it, much the same way that a full time, exhausting task. The teaching Hhe UEA does, by itself, in a vacuum and profession would find a snore favorable sena chance in Utah, and that victory here will j timent from taxpayers and parents if they give them a vital measure of prestige and irrespective of the States other needs. ' In an interim report this approach might did not resist some kind of system which power to carry on their fight in other, larger be acceptable, but notwhen it is accompanied would reward the hard working, enthusiastic, , states. a to a a extent session as than severe as the teacher special by suggestion capable greater mediocre one. , of the legislature. Possibly the answer lies in the history of ' As the school study committee stated, The Governor doesnt know why the com- the last 15 years when our support of 'educaDirect comparisons of teachers salaries with mittee approached the problem this way, tion has been less than adequate. ' neither do we. But we other occupational groups are difficult because aip now making a real effort, and A special I session of the legislature of the variations which occur in the job a greater one in terms of our personal income, costs about state the than of $100,000, apparently any other state. requirements, working conditions, length I and thus can be an as emergency regarded only working year, educational efforts required, j measure: The UEA unanimously approved the schooli variations in fringe benefits and job tenure. Yet the committee did not give any indication Noone can determine, without complex study committee interim report. We wonder in the report or otherwise that a state of analysis, what the proper level of teachers how many teachers have actually read that emergency existed. I compensation should be. portion which states: 1 -- 5 1 s ft. "The committee certainly hopes that all who want increased financial support fpr elementary whools can approach the problem in such a way that orderly processes of govern- ment can be maintained, for such actions as invoking sanctions, withholding services or threatening to withhold school services, are diS- plays of force which ought not to occur in Utah or in any other state." , , and-secondar- -- The UEA: Power And Acceptance -- 5 ' ( $ 1 All but 355 teachers on Tuesday voted to do exactly what the committee stated should not happen. s ' suspect that many teachers do not go all the way with the UEA board of trustees. ; But they also may feel that this is Their only chance. The UEAs actions have been harsh and , , intemperate to say the least. There is another alternative: The demo cratic one of political activity and the other a ballot box. Any teacher who dared suggest temperance at the Tuesday meeting at the Fairgrounds had4P have the courage of a tiger. One man who did so was discourteously jeered. Its not easy to face a crowd of 7,400. The last thing the people ot this state want is to set themselves upKas opponents of the teachers. But the teachers through their powerful pressure group, leave u no alternative. This is tragic! It is of paramount importance that we work out our own educational system - taxpayers, legislators and teachers together. Teachers, by invoking the powers of a national pressure group, have put the citizens of this state on guard. We 0 v ( do battle - neither of They have decided-tus can really win. Should they win, this kind( of action will quickly spread to other states and become a national practice. We tear the results that can come from this chaos. We suspect that any industry contemplating a move to Utah will look on this situation not from a standpoint of quality education, but from the point of view of Utahs tactics in its provulnerability to union-lik- e o 0 fessions of public trust. la t Is There Moderation? i 4.1 our only voice, our only effective tool is the ballot box. Lets face it! This is not sufficiently effec- tive to stem the crisis and impasse now developing. We only hafe one chance, which seems ( tragically unlikely at this point. That one chance is that there might be enough sensible, moderate voices among our teachers to stop this cataclysm. Somewhere, somehow, perance must take the lead in the UEA or As taxpayers 4 outside of it The school study committee can recommend a special session, the UEA cannot be allowed to dictate one. In an argument on this subject someone last week said, Im for the teachers. - We all are. But if the citizens of this state are forced by this radical pressure group into a position of having no reasonable alternatives - the reaction and sympathy for the teaching profession is sure to reach an ebb which would be disastrously destructive to the future of our children. X"- What Do You Think? Survey Says Most Residents Dont Approve Of Teachers Strike,t) w- 4 A . V. f V r f OPINION PLEASE W- ' st. j?! d- f V t VV Neal Cluphf JS81 West Alder Road Salesman "I dont think that teachers should go on strike. Theyre responsible to the children and parents. I think they should have a raise and additional benefits, but there are other vays of getting them besides striking. The PTA should get behind the teachers and help work out their problems with the school boards 4 Mrs Mary Lou Walker 264 University Street English teacher, 'Wasatch Jr. High 1 think something has to be done, but this isnt the most desirable way of doing the governor should it I do something about the study that has been made. This Is the only way to make them realize the seriousness of the situation. 1 QUESTION: 4 Do You Feel Teachers Mrs. D. E. Dimond 2764 South 8650 West Housewife Lester Matson 271 Longley Way I was in the PTA for two years, so I know the prob- lem. But I dont think they should strike. Their wages do, need raised, but there are other ways besides striking. Gary Robison 1806 Glenbrook Circle English, Utah history teacher Wasatch Jr. High Should Go On Strike? - D. C. Milner 7131 South 27J0 East Arcadia, California Mgr., Woolworths No, because It Isnt as If they belong to a union. Anyone who wants to be a teacher No, I dont. My theory is that you can fight with anybody. Teachers should have the education to Iron out their should take the same attitude of a missionary. I grant you they need more money. . problems, Instead of creating new ones. "Well the governor should abide by thwrecommendatlons of his own committee. I feel If we cant settle matters any other way, a strike Is the only alternative. Most teachers hope we can find other methods to resolve It. Mrs. Ruth Yearsley 536 Drlggs Avenue Housewife "No, I dont really. Stop and think that theyre getting paid for only nine months work and If they want they can get summer jobs. If theyre qualified and doing a good job, then okey. I feel some arent qualified for the teaching theyre doing. Walter K. Daly 1399 Parkway Avenue Principal, Wasatch Jr. Hig "Its a difficult question t answer. Teachers have rea sons to be very much con cerned about the turn of event I caa appreciate their Incite tion to want to do somethfl to call attention In a drama tic manner to the problem we have. We do have crltl cal needs In schools that ar not being met. |