The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-22

MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF
CoUNCIIs.-The Finance Committee OF Councils
met last evening, in the committee room, Fifth
and Chesnut streets, President Potter in the
chair. After the transaction of some unim-
portant business, the bill making an appropria-
eight o'clock, at which hour q committee OF
lady teachers, seven in number, accompanied
and Mr.. Richie, Principal of the High Scnool,
arrived, 10 consult the members of the commit
tee on the subject of an increase of pay.
Mr.. Shippen addressed the committee. He
SAID that the ladies present were teachers Of
the public schools, and had been appointed TO
wait upon the committee and urge the neces-
sily of an increase Of their pay. lie hoped that
the gentlemen would thoroughly question the
ladies upon the subject OF an increase, and
make themselves satisfied whether or not they
were entitled to more pay. He introduced Miss
Kereven, of the Fifth School Section, who elo-
quently appealed in behalf of her sister teach
ers FOR an increase Of salary
She said that the object for which they had
called upon the committee was we'll known. It
was not only to urge their claims for more pay
but to refute the arguments of those opposed to
the measure There is not Councilman pre-
sent who will say that the teachers are well re-
compensed for their labors. An argument used
by the opposition is that we have a number OF
holidays during the year, especially vacation
during the summer months. We were not in
strumental in securing holidays for the scholars
on the contrary, the latter were consulted, and
for their interest the holidays were granted.
The teachers are required to be at school
fifteen minutes before the scholars, and most OF
them are compelled to remain during dinner
hour, and are the last TO leave the school
buildings. Their time during the day is en-
tirey taken up with the school duties, and in
the evening they are occupied i'm examining
papers, preparing questions, &c., for the conSi-
t ueIati1n V 'Ile scnoLaIS I on Gs ilioLIoM' ne
drudgery than physical labor.
Some say that because the teachers are fe-
males they are well recompenSed. This IS n
poor argument. No one will question the right
Of the rear guard of our army receiving It's ra-
tons as well as those foremost in the ranks In
fact, those who are in the rear have more labor
to perform than those at the head. The sick
and wounded and those who give out on the
march are to be looked after, and this the rear
guard attends to. Education is the brain of the
nation, and it should be the duty of our citizens
TO give their children good education.
The three hundred dollars that some OF our
teachers receive is a very poor pittance for their
years labor in teaching the children of our
citizens. Another argument is, that the posi-
tion of school teacher is constantly sought
after, and that the applicants are numerous.
We do not deny this fact, but how many OF
them are qualified for the position? If you are
willing for an increase, we are confident that a
proper equalization of the amount will be made
to the teachers by the Board of Control.
Mr.. Richie stated that he was present at the
request of the lady teachers, and was in favor
OF an increase OF their pay. lie said that the
COuncilmen were aware OF the fact that the
teachers were poorly paid, but they opposed the
measure on the ground that the city could not
afford to make the increase. He did not think
that that was good reason why they should
Mr. Shippen urged the increase Of salary
He said that the cost of each pupil to the city,
during last year, was ten dollars and few
cents He Thought that was n small figure, and
he was confident that the school system was AS
complete as could be. There is no reason, said
the speaker, that our teachers should not be
properly recompensed for their services. There
are eight hundred teachers serving the city who
are not receiving one dollar day for their
labor. This is small ptttance and Councils
should thoroughly consider the matter.
The committee then considered the appropra-
tion privately, and after discussion the bill
was passed, without any action being taken in
in reference to the increase of pay of the school
teachers
MEETING OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE Poor
The stated meeting of the Board of Guardians
the Poor took place yesterday afternoon,
President Erety in the chair. The House Agent
reported the following census of the House for
the week ending January 10, lS67:-Number in
the House. 3i65; same time last year, 3lJi; in