New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-28
SCHOOL TEACHERS WAGES.
REDrc1JoN STRONGLY OPPOSED.

Probably no department OF the City Gov
ernmeut was ever before aVaef as that of the pub
lie schools has been during the past week the prop
ositon made at the meeting Of the Board Of Edl-
caton N educe the 50 aros of the teachers As was 10
he expected those affected strongly opposed to any
sueh action on The part the Board have united in
an earnest protest inst it. They claim that 70 make
reduction in their viii do them great Injustice
as those paid them too large for the
amount and character Of the they required 20
perform. The duties OF a teacher commonly sup
posed by people hot with the courses Of in
sirucion pursued in the public schools be
paratyely light and Of little real consequence except TO
the scholars themselves but both OF these IDEAS the
teachers hold very erroneous the position OF the
true teacher who recognizes her obligations to her class
aud earnestly desires ful1 them, involves iErest
deal OF hard labor. Her consists not merely IN
hearing the scholars recEe the lessons which they have
learned from their textbooks IN teaching the
simple branches laid down in the curriculum. but com
prses also wholesome discipline. She has 70 keep the
children order and infuse into them habits OF neat
and regularity, with instruction as to the laws OF
life and health When it is considered that many
Of the scholars IN the public schools come from regu
lated homes where they receive little instruction
and are very often under almost restraint it VIII be
perceived how great task is imposed upon the teachers
who are expected to bring them under thorough DIS
cipne and 10 form in them characters that viii make
them useful men and All this requires not OILY
large Of labor, with frequent vexations from
the unruy ones while school, but involves eonsider-
BILE and anxiety upon teachers who feel personal
interest IN those under their charge and continually
studying ont Of school hours, how they may
best advance the interests OF their scholars.
In fact they claim they Ill 70 many children the places
OF parents and to extent, lady principal sug
gests combine in their work the three professions OF
Medicine Law and Theology. teaching the children 20
care for their health nstrueng them in their relations
and duties 70 society," and leading them TO realization
OF their moral obligations Of all OF which almost Their
only ideas gained in the schools, The teachers also
largely elevate the tastes and ambitions OF their
scholars and to incucate admiration FOR the good and
beautiful. in which they meet often with gratifying
success Though all this extra labor seem 70 many
people entirely needless part Of the teachers and
"a thing Tor which they should expect 70 be paid by
the city the teachers, ana those who are familiar with
the results accomplished claim that IS OF incalcuaoe
advantage 10 the whole community every child they
draw out Of his evil habits and turn into clean ana
healthy way OF living, TO into good and useful
citizen Will become benefit instead Of burden 10 So
ciety.
The teachers also claim that a reduction IN their saa
res will briug discomfort upon many Of them, as they
depend entirely upon what they receive from the CITY
With large number the pay now sufficient 10 sustain
them in a very plain manner, while any decrease would
obge them to give up the few comforts they have and
lower them considerably in the social SCALE This they
aging but would seriously impair the respect felt for
them BY their scholars and parents upon which depends
In a large measure their influence and the success OF
their nsTucuons for to maintain this they are Obliged
TO dress well and live in q decent locality. Indeed, u Is
rum0red that number OF the older teachers have quietly
determined without any intention OF seeming 70 strike
TO seek other oflveihOOd should this measure be
adopted in which case it is believed that considerable
difficulty would DO experienced in filling their places,
as complaint is made now by many princi-
pals that it very hard TO obtain able and experienced
teachers. even when good salary siofered. Thus, T.
D. l. Switzerland, Principal OF Grammar School No 3,
states that he was unable long time Ind suita
bic assistant in his school at salary Of SLIGO and
that when secured for the position he re-
NAMED only months, the labor required being moro
arduOus than the money would compensate hilu for.
The principal OF primary school the east side adds
that for four in her department she has had
on tIla about 20 teachers OF whom promise Of
being competent, when they left her for places in gram
mar schools where the pay was higher.
LOW sALARIEssPAID HERE.
In this matter OF teachers salaries NewYOrk, though
the largest and wealthest citv the continent and
therefore the able be just if not liberal is really
behind other places in the country among which Bos
ton takes the lead Thus in the latter city the head
masters receive the first year $500 and thereafter
5000 the f9g TIE FIST year $4,000 and suOse-
ouenly s. 900 in the igh schools and s. 200 in the gram
mar schools sub-masters, first year. 5000 and after
ward s. 400 ushers trst year. 81 7OO ana then 5000
and the female teachers the grammar and primary
schools which rank equally, 5000 for the first year, 500
for the second and $500 after that. In this city accord
ing 10 the present regulations the salary Of male prn-
cpals Of grammar schools is 5000; that Of male vice
principals, s.5OO; OF lady principals OF gram
mar schools, S2,J06; OF principals OF primary
schools who are all ladies' $780, Of viCepuncipas OF
primary schools ladies also, slloo; male assistants IN
grammar schools from 81 900 $1,000; female assistants
in grammar schools from $500 10 300 and in primary
schools from $500 $500 But tins scale OF salaries
which is not nearly liberal that Of Boston, where
the cost Of living Is less, adopted only about
ole year ago previous to which time the pay Of teachers
was much lower. As they are now, II Is claimed that
they are none large the higher 70 enable
their recipients live comfortably. many having others
dependent upon them for support; aud as they were
before they hardly permitted this with opportunity
saving anything for future contingencies This TACT
the teachers think should weigh strongly against any
plan fer q reduction. No provision is made BY the
department for pensonmg teachers who become inca
FACILITATED the service, DO they ever faithful and
worthy and they have nothing 70 look forward to in
old age and helpessness unless they can manage TO lay
by something from their salaries
But while the teachers protest against reduction in
their salaries they, in with many others fJ-
mar with the present system Of paying them, feel that
cai eful and thorough revision OF rates is mperatvey
needed and that the salaries, now appOItOned,
very unequal. This Is matter which has engaged AZ
renon for time, but, yet nothing satisfactory
has ever been accomplished by those who have under
taken the matter. the question OF making changes
in the salaries OF the Department has been brought up IN
the Board Of Education those interested In the subject
ties OF the present arrangement, have felt that this
an oppOrtune time for the consideration or the
salary question In all us bearings ana rs
urOp0sed 10 urge upon the Commissioners the
importance of settling the matter now, by a
careful and equitable reaciustment OF the rates.
Among teachers this ncq 1aty IL salaries Is begin
ming 10 engage a great deal more attention than here
tofOre and many 10 feel that their rights III
this respect ought 10 be longer neglected and they