It can happen here

Media

Part of The Philippine Educator

Title: It can happen here
Language: English
Year: 1947
Rights
Fulltext: ·r •. ... , ~4 ~ :. . ~~~' IT CAN HAPPEN HERE ----The . Reader's Digest for February 1947 contains an article entitled "How Georgia's Teachers Got a Raise" by Blake Clark. This one might tell the PPSTA a thing or two about strategy for social justice. Let us draw parallelisms: 1. Teacher George Thomas of Georgia resigned in order to earn six times more as a laborer in a railroad company. Many a Filipino teacher also prefers to stay out of this cul-de-sac called Philippine public-school teaching. 2. "The Principal and 12 of the 16 teachers at Conyers High School, were preparing to leave. . . In Harris County a one-room school saw five teachers come and go in as many months." Same here. Teacher turnover is high. Teachers do not give a dam if they quit, get absent, or go on leave. 3. "The increase which seemed necessary to keep Georgia teachers from quitting wholesale was staggering. Getting it seemed almost hopeless." That's what our Congressmen are thinking right now~ They want to give a raise, but they can not see how the raises for teachers can be met by the government. 4. Pay increase of 50 percent would mean for Georgia taxpayers an additional $12,500,000 - an unheard-of sum for a single raise . In the Philippines, raising the salaries of all teachers by P10 a month would mean at least P700,000 a year. Raising the salaries of teachers by 50oio would mean Romething like P5,000,000 a year - alSCI an unheard-of sum for a single raise. 5. "Editors pointed out that the Rchools alread~· received nearly half of \4 by PEDRO CASTILLO every state tax dollars; there just weren't enough dollars." Same pessi· mistic cry around here just now. 6 . "Collins and a committee of educators. . . were in the office of Governor Ellis Arnall, urging him to use the liquor funds to save the schools." Replied Arnall: "But, gentlemen ... the heads of 21 other agencies are trying to get their hands on that money. There'll be only a trickle left for the teachers ." Striking resemblance to local situation. Health, foreign affairs, labor strikes, peace and order, etc.they all try to clutch at "that money . " Education, which does not fight and grab, is conveniently slashed. 7. "Collins realized that his tactics were outmoded, that the only way he could get the money was through aroused public opinion." The PPSTA is inclined to believe in this. Wait and see. B. "Thousands of underpaid teachers contributed $2 each to finance a state-wide information campaign." Here, teachers are fast chipping in their P1 for the PPSTA . They know that if they can only get a P10 raise :~ month, that would mean that their vearlv fee of P1 will have been paid i20 t.imes over for the first year alone. They know that they stand to gain everything by joining. 9. "Collins set out to enlist the aid of businessmen, farmers, religious groups and parents. Leaders of the3e groups joined him in a six weeks' whirlwind campaign." This the PPSTA might do, too. It all depends upon the type of Executive Secretary the Asso<'iation will choose. He will be the Collins of the Philippines. IT HAPPEN HERE 15 10. Collins convinced ·;;eorgla businessmen that the exodus of educated people away from Georgia was damaging local business. As a result, "the state's 5000 Lionll petiti•med Governor Arnall to grant the 50 p~rcent increase immediately." Our local businessmen might see likewise. 11. Next, Collins campaigned among farmers, "politically, one of the most important groups in Georgia." "You can't learn subjects like soil erosion, conservation and crop diversification. from teachers who haven't gone further than the fifth grade." Neither can we expect education from ill-prepared teachers, mere high-school students without professional training. 12. "Collins appealed to fathers and mothers tlhrough the Parent-Teacher Association." 'Nearly half our children are being taught by uncertified teachers.' I just can't bring myself to send my seventh-grade child to a teacher who went no further than the fourth grade herself.' "As a res111t, a large proportion of 86,000 memben~ of the PTA in Georgia wrote their local candidates for the legislature, telling in words straight from the heart why they wanted more pay for their children'a teachers." PTA members all over the Philippines might take the hint and overwhelm even the toughest Congress . 13. "In April of last year,. candi· dates for the legislature began theii campaigD speeches. 'Georgia occasion· ally misses a cotton harvest, but never a crop of children,' one opened, and he pledged himself to do his part to raise teacher3' pay 50 percent." AI· ready, many of our Congressmen have written letters of sympathy and have made promises of help. 14. "When ihe smoke of the July primary had cleared away, it was found that every one of Georgia'E 205 state legislators who were to take their seats in January 1947 had pledged himself to grant the raise." Our 56,000 teach· ers and several million parents can seo to it that this can happen here also. 15. "Governor Arnall, convinced that; taxpapers demanded the increase, did not make teachers wait upon these campaign promises. . . He announced that teachers. . . would find the extra money in their pay envelopes.. The governor kept his promise." President Roxas also made a promise: "I know of no more underpaid group of KQV• ernment employees that the teachers ••• I know of no more important function than theirs." There are signs at thia writing that he intends to keep the promise. 16. "Today no child in Georgia is going untaught for lack of teachers." Here, it all depends upon the Executive Secretary which the PPSTA selects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the most reasonably-priced footwear in town U.S. made Sears, Roebuck Sandals at P2.95 up Genuine Leather Shoes at Pl0.75 and your other needs-Cosmetics, Perfumeries, Toiletries, School Supplies, Haberdasheries Gift Items our specialty Shop at F'LEUR DE PARIS DEPARTMENT STORE Co ·ner Rizal A venue and Azcarraga Street d • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••••••••••• : I \ I \l 16 PHILIPPINE EDUCATOR How Congress can be persuaded that every adult citizen is willing to pay a nominal school tax of, say, fifty centavos just to ensure public education alJ depends upon how the PPSTA will ·handle its public relations. The nation's 56,851 teachers are rallying beWORDS OF for the .;' . February 20, 1947 . In working for the interest of the !.teachers, I have considered the sad ·Plight of many a temporary .teacher .. who· has been in the service for as . long as 10 to 15 . years . And although .they per.form the same kind of patriot! .ic service and shoulder the same de. gree of responsibility in the performance of . their duties devoting most of their time to their profession, work. ing ·more than 15 hour;; a day . even outside the classroom, this unhappy . l-ot of. people have been to date deprived of many benefits, rights, and privileges which would otherwise accrue to them if the~ w~re Civil Se;·vice eligibles. '. (S~D.) TORIBIO PEREZ Congressman 2nd District, Albay DEALER fN: PAINTS AND OIL HARDWARES BUILDING MATERIALS hind the Association, and the Association is girding its loins for "an historic victory" similar to that one that happened in Georgia. It can happen here. Let us wait and see. COMFORT little man ·.· . ·,; .February; 20, 1947 Teacher's respectable profession lead in . the honor roll of our progress and civilization. It has been dragg~_d along to inattention ,and insufficience . for soml!time . ~ow. , We .a.im to stanq.an;l.ize their pay a~d re-?l_Rc~. thei~ SP,!rit for the educational patronage of our youth and' return them to their usual decent call of duty. We seek to extend to them securitie3 which will serve as impetus in their restless intellectual mission and to provide · for them certain privileges 'which will enable them to exercise such ·Without inequitable experiences that may arise in the future for their weBbeing. (Sgd.) DATU MANALO MINDALANO Congressman for Lanao SUPPLIER OF : GRAVEL AND SAND CEMENT & LIME SCUMBROS & ADOBE STONES THE FILIPINO CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY ........ 563 ECHAGUE, QUIAPO, MANILA, P. I. MANUFACTURER OF: TILES OF DIFFERENT DESIGNS CEMENT BRICKS & PIPES MEDIA LUNA & TERRAZO BALUSTRE & PEDESTALS P. M. CADSA WAN SYNTHETIC MARBLE GRANOLITIC STEPS OWNER WORDS OF COMFORT FOR THE LITTLE MAN 17 Febnary 20, 1947 The approval of the educational and teachers' bills last session should speak well of the good faith and high regards of the CongressmRn towards the welfare of the Public Sphool Teachers. This teachers' bill which seeks to standardize the salaries and . give automatic increase has been recalled from the Senate by virtue of a resolution passed a few days ago precisely to improve same in connection with the proposed bills mentioned in your letter. (SGD.) JOSE MENCIO Congressman, 2nd District, Mountain Province February 19, 1947 I wish to inform you that I am in favor of all legislation towards the betterment of the teaching profession. I am fully aware of the hardships of the public school teachers and their group constitutes the underpaid employees of the government and because of this' personal conviction you can count with my humble support on any measure or bill which is expected to be discussed on the floor of the House after our recess. (SGD.) ANASTACIO AGAN Congressman for Batanes February 20, 194 7 H. Bills Nos. 886 and 820 are social legislations in chara¢er tending to ameliorate the pre.>ent plight of our public school teachers. I realize the pitiful situation of our public mentors and you can rest assured that I will support any bill in the House that would raise the standard and, especially, the basic salary of public school teachers. (SGD.) PASCUAL BELTRAN Congressman 3rd District, Pangasinan I have at heart the interests of my fellow-teachers. I say fellow-teachers because I was a teacher myself way back in 1920. (Sgd.) ADRIANO D. LOMUNTAD Congressman 3rd District, Samar February 19, 1947 I wish to assure you that I have committed myself in support of any movement designed to improve the lot of our public school teachers. They can count on my whole hearted support in Congress of all bills for their improvement. (SGD.) TOMAS S. CLEMENTE Congressman 2nd District, Sorsogon * Suplementary readers and Library books from Pl.OO to P2.50 * Textbooks, dictionaries, Civil Service Manuals * Books for every need at the lowest prices * Subscriptions for any published magazine foreign or local Visit Or WriteUNION!BOOKS, INC. 130 Nueva, Manila !:::====· -============!I \ I \) i '