New-York tribune., 1873-06-21
A STINGY SCHOOL POLICY.


THE PROPOSED REVISION OF TEACnEEs' SALARIES
GENERALLY CoNDEMNED-A BLOW AIMED AT
THE NORMAL sCHOoL-T1IE COLOEED SCHOOLS
STARVED oUT-THE MEASURE sMUGGLED
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE.
The new plan for adjusting the salaries OF
teachers the public schools presented 10 the Board Of
Education by the Committee Salaries stl continues
TO excite much comment among all interested In educa-
tona matters and tho various provisions come to
be better understood the impression Is strengthened In
the minds OF all acquainted with the public school sys
tenn that the adoption OF the scheme will be productive
OF harm than good. In addition TO tho objections
its leading recently presented in THE TRB
UHE, another is advanced that the effect on
the Primary Schools will be very disastrous II
some of tho propositions concerning them Do
carried into effect. Thus, according TO this new
scale, assistant teacher in primary school or de-
partment must begin. with provisional license, on 500
per year. and at that rate for the first six months
at least when IL her work Is approved she may receive
o full license and 500 salary, with $50 additional each
subsequent year. provided she gives satisfaction and
the allowance TO her school ia sufficient to permit IT,
The lowest salary paid TO these teachers IL $500
which il claimed by many to be too much for the
quality and quantity OF the work; but uuder the re-
yised schedule they will have teach for at least
and a half years before they can receive that sum,
while, with the exception Of one in each school, they
can only attain to u maximum Of 500 at best This,
it is asserted, will deter from accepting these
positions those who possibly obtain work
elsewhere, thus compelling the primary schools TO
receive an inferior class OF teachers who will take the
places from necessity alone aud retain them only till
they can others in the schools This, It
s felt will nure the primary schools greatly not only
by aordng them poor quality Of instructors ~ the
beginning, but also by continually taking away from
them those who have become capable through expert
ence and as most principals Of grammar schools claim
that they would rather have the fresh teachers than
those from the primary schools their methods Of teach
Ing being different, componsating gain will result
from the changes Were the salaries however equal in
both departments this steady depletion Of the lower
would not occur and much could be accomplished
tor the many chill ren whose education is received only
in them In addition being injurious TO the schools,
this parsmOnOus policy considered very unjust to the
teachers even in the lower grades Not much objection
ia made to requiring teacher to submit TO trial OF six
months before being granted
urged that $3.50 year is too low rate even or that,
considering the preparation young girl IS compelled to
make before she can teach at ALL and again, after she
has proved her ability practically IL is claimed that $500.
with only $50 annual increases altogether too little.
girl VINO desires to teachls obliged TO pursue special
course Of study for three years at tho Normal College,
during which she can little toward supporting her.
self When she has done all this is felt that she ought
TO be able to earn at least fair living If qualified to
teach at all in any OF the departments, and not for the
sake OF the schools she should not be employed any
where The prospect OF receiving sucn small salaries
as many of the teachers obliged to begin with
In the primary schoOs,' Is said TO have already had
discouracng effect on those who looking forward 10
this work. it is felt that II the scheme be adopted the
attendance ut the Normal College will be considerably
lessened and the yearly Supply Of new teachers thus
largely decreased many parents viii be unwilling 10
allow their children enter profession which promises
OF
equally desirable occupations. One gentleman was
heard TO say that unless the salaries OF lower teachers
were raised no would not permit MS daughter TO enter
the Normal College and become teacher, as she con-
tempated doing she could earn more as easily else
where
The perpetuating OF the evil Of having larger classes
in the primary than in the schools an average
Of so in the to IS the latter is also greatly de-
pored for reasons already forth in TIE TRIBUNE
This is also used another argument in favor OF giving
better salaries teachers the lower departments
as their work thus made greater; but 1t Is felt by
some that the effect of the disparity is moro deporaDe
upon the children than upon themselves and they would
be willing foresO the increase OF pay, even, neces
ary to secure greater advantages for their scholars
Another defect OF the plan, t is stated, would be
the closing OF all the cOOred schools in the city they
are the most expensive in the department exceeding
largely In the limit 70 be allowed IL was thought
at first that since they not mentioned in the
the committee, tucSc were 10 DC loIL
untouched but it asserted that the bylaws Of the
Board no difference made between schools for white
and those for c0Ored children and that, consequently
these would have To be closed, they cannot possibly
be carried on at expenditure within tue pro rata al
lOwance.
The statement as pubishediL THE TRIBUNE Of Tuesday
that the restriction Of the cost OF the different schools
and departments TO a certain per scholar would
take after Jan l. 1874 $4,000 per year from the
IL ~
salaries OF teachers by 2OoOO annually has caused con-
siderable comment. Much surprise IS expressed that
the Committee should have contemplated any decrease
at all in this account, since the opposition to such
proposition when first broached, several weeks ago,
so strong and unanimous all sides No one, IL IS
claimed, has asked that salaries of teachers be re-
duced and that the expenditures OF the de-
partment be made less and all that desired, It is
asserted Of the Board that It should administer its
charge wisely and economically but not parsmOniousy
When then this question had been once discussed fully
and the improperly OF cutting of anything from this
item of expenditure shown clearly, it was hoped by
all interested in the schools that whatever saving was
made might be effected where the consequences would
not be disastrous. Hence, the amazement was great
when the committee presented their report-which it
should be said only six members signed-that IL still
proposed this reduction, especially after the Board had
adopted at the previous meeting the estimates OF tue
Finance Committee, asking from the Board OF Appor
tiOnment an OF S2569 the allowance last
made and S900 the estimates OF the late Board or
Public Instruction thus providing for an increase IN the
general expenses OF the Department. THIS enlarged
not however deemed excessive by those familiar
with the the schools but IL argued from II
that II tue old Boards expenditures for supplies, re-
pairs &C. not too lavish 10 Is fair 10 presume by
analogy that those for teachers salaries not Be
sides in bringing about the contemplated reduction the
scheme Is so arranged that appreciabe benefit, II
any could result from 10 during the present year, and
the full effect would not be apparent for several years TO
come before which time more money could readily be
obtaiutd, it is claimed, were larger appropriation
needed by the Department, the citizens Of NeWGOrk
have never begrudged giving any amounts when WOuld
increase the efficiency their public schools. on thus
account this attempt sc economy by the Committee Is
considered wholly unnecessary and at the Same time
very presumpuOus, lyiAg IL does indirectly IN the