Strange
as it may appear, such is not the case; while her labor, apparently not
so responsible, is often more wearing than the labor of the
schoolmaster. It seems that the average pay of female teachers is $15.36
per month. When it is remembered that all the expenses of living are to
be deducted from the amount paid at this rate, her real income shrinks
into the merest trifle. There is not an occupation in which intelligent
young women can be employed that does not present greater pecuniary
inducements. Under such circumstances it must be a matter of surprise
that we have as good teachers, both male and female, as now have charge
of our schools. Will any one, then, for a moment suppose that persons of
greater ability than they will be induced to engage or continue in such
an employment, when wealth and influence and happiness point in another
direction? Laying aside suppositions, let us see what the facts are.
With the majority of those now engaged in the business, teaching is a
temporary employment. Some are teaching during their college vacations,
intending, as soon as they graduate, to commence their professional
studies;--they are perhaps our future judges, or clergymen, or sagacious
merchants; others are already abandoning the business to enter upon
mercantile pursuits. As soon as they have acquired experience, so that
their services are truly valuable to the public, they find that their
future prospects are to be sacrificed if they continue longer in the
profession. Thus, instead of retaining persons in this most important of
all professions, we drive them out of it to adorn and exalt other
occupations. Many of the ablest men in each of our learned professions
were once school-teachers: if a proper reward had encouraged them to
remain in that capacity, how visible at this day would be the influence
which they would have exerted upon their pupils! It is clear, then, that
the only means by which we can retain teachers who have the requisite
talent and ability, is by paying them adequate salaries. Then our
schools can furnish moral as well as intellectual instruction; and the
object which our system of education contemplates can in a great degree
be accomplished.

Fully aware that the people are peculiarly sensitive on the subject of
taxation, especially when no tangible results are to follow its
increase, we do not hesitate to say that the interests of education
demand a far greater expenditure of money. The spirit