Education: How to Raise Salaries?

The salaries of St. Paul's teachers ($3,300 to $5,300) were lower than those in any other big city in Minnesota. There had been no raises for three years, and while St. Paul was already short 169 teachers, those on hand were quitting for higher paid jobs elsewhere. How could the school board put through a $50-a-month raise when it was facing a $335,000 deficit? Last week the board seized upon a drastic solution that stunned the whole town.

Henceforth, said the board, there will be no kindergartens, no more junior-high or high-school basketball, football, debating, dramatics or choral singing. Janitor services will...