The Importance of Teachers in a Democracy, Dr Frank Crane, April 7, 1920

From The University of North Carolina News Letter, Wednesday, April 7, 1920

Trifling With Education

By Dr. Frank Crane

The United States was founded by people who were thoroughly convinced of the absolute importance of an educated citizenship as a basis for a permanent democracy.

If you are going to have a government by the people as well as for the people and the people you must take measures to develop the kind of people who are capable of governing.

If the people of America are to take over the business of kings into their own hands they must all be kings. They must not only know how to govern themselves, but they must learn the technique of government and also acquire the taste for government.

Along with citizenship and culture must go the will for politics, the willingness to assume the responsibilities of politics, the willingness to assume the responsibilities of politics and the training necessary thereto.

After 150 years of struggle against the inertia of tradition we are recognizing the citizenship of the woman. And it is of vital importance that the educated woman should be prepared to assume that citizenship.

Although we have always boasted of our educational facilities, we have nevertheless only been trifling with education. There is no doubt that the teachers of our country are underpaid, and that if we continue our present policy this teaching force is going to deteriorate more rapidly.

You cannot defy natural forces and it is natural for the more capable people to seek those avenues of employment that bring the most remuneration and give the most opportunity for liberal culture.

Dr. William Allen Neilsen, president of Smith’s College, says: “We are facing the annihilation of a profession.”

Teaching does not pay. Other professions do. The college graduate is entering the industrial and commercial fields. They become department managers or go into business for themselves; they take up chemistry or dietetics; they write or edit.

A New York professor writes: Most of the young men now coming into the teaching ranks are mediocre. Otherwise they would not be here. There is too much demand for them elsewhere. The world is being rebuilt and they are wanted. The universities cannot get them.

In view of all this it is difficult to conceive of a more pressing obligation upon our people than that of worthily endowing and supporting their institutions of learning.