New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-19
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
SCHOOL TEACHERS SALARIES.

AND ANOTHER CREATED-KEGUIATIoS, MOI RE-
DUCTIoN WANTED.
The action of the Board of Education, at ITS
last meeting in adopting In Committee OF the Whoe
portion of the new schedule for paying she salaries VI
the teachers in the public schools, Win only ShR"'
amendment, is the theme Of considerable eoulmon.
among those Interested in educational matters, ana
many are watching earnestly to what disposition
will be made this week the remaining PROVISIONS ana
whether the Board viii finally adopt scheme WHOM mas
received 80 much criticism, ana Is ned even ho"'
DESPITE the changes made IN IL, 10 ne Doth una"
and unwise 1t is well known that the authors OF 'ho
proposed schedule expect TO save by IL TO the depart
ment so soon as shall have gone iptO complete opera
ton upward Of 100000 yearly; this they claim though
In order "a escapc the objections OF those who are OPP
nosed 70 a reduction in the salaries OF the present
teachers does not affect at all those now employed III
the schools inasmuch as the new scale WI" Apply Only
IN those newly appointed and thus can work no mus
ce TO the old ones The falaey OF this claim VIII De
ncrcelyed when II Is recoleced that all the teachers
who have not yet reached the highest positions are
working with hope Of promotion, 10 be accompanied
~ cours by an increase OF pay and that any change
in the rate must necessarily concern them whenever
change IL made in their positions Many OF these 100
even for several grades the same school, are now re-
ceiying salaries larger-in some cases considerably
areerhan those that could be allowed them under the
now scheme whom advanced to grade higher. so that
promotion
would prove worse than none at ALL This certainly Is
oiscoragng to the present teachers, as for many oil
them 1t destroys the prospect OF advancement, though
they may labor faithfully for years ana DC ever 20 prom
cient al their work But there Is another bad enect Oh
this contemplated reduction flowing out OF the other
which, 1t ia urged the Commissioners ought 10 consider
carefully and mat Is the great difficulty and in some
cases perhaps impossiblty which will be experienced
in filling vacancies In the higher grades OF assistant
lie
dome IA now by promotions, except from q
very low grade for as stated ABOVE teachers VIII
not care to take promotion with reduction OF pay SO
long as they can retain their present positions ana saa
res aud resort viii have to be had to those who are less
experienced and are willing to work for smaller
amount thus placing poor teachers over INC heauS vi
good ones As an illustration Of this 1t may be stated
that IN one large male grammar school the side
the highest female assistant receives sl,02j while
the next receives 81 600 and the others In decreasing
proportion several OF them drawing over s5OO Now as
e first reaches class below the third grade her sue
cessor could under the proposed schedule get only |S
or 500 less than is now paid to the one
in the position below aud less by various amounts
than is given to several more so that none OF them
opd care 70 be promoted" In another case, that Of
large grammar school girls, the first assistant re-
ceves AT present $OGs the next, $0Os &c. According
TO the new plan first assistant could have only
81 O or - less than the second one is receiving which,
though she might consent to give up for the sake OF
gaining higher rank but the second position, when
would then become vacant would be worth only $500 To
the new incumbent and would hardly prove inviting TO
those who are now getting more Similar difficulties
Will il is claimed, he experienced Ia various DINER
schools in some Of which the salaries In the upper
grades even higher, thus Increasing inc emoaraS
mcnt. ,,-,- -.-.., .,..i,.. 49,,
scheme is thar as j. intended according to ITS pro-
iecOrs statements, 10 apply ony 10 new appoint
ncnts no provision made by It for the advancement
lao, ~
grades az O salary less than the maximum nXed by tne
new plan thus leaving them to be paid year aiter year
ana consequently Of less experience receiving an
annual increase. This discrimination Is claimed 10 DC
decidedly unjust 70 tho present teachers many OF "no
nave already had experience OF several years. ald
some whom even now receiving less tnah te NV
avis cited aboye the new scheme Is held tc be decidedly
defective in that 1t does not remedy Inc olo gISa'
namely the inequality. under the present
system, in paying teachers OF u. same s, ,,
10 500 or 800 according the size OF the school Ihus
FOR Instance. two certain male grammar schoo tne
hohest female assistant OF receives over gl2OO,
While the teacher Of the same rank ia Tue other Bes
onlg about $1,000 or 800 less ihonSn PerioTug equa,
various grades Is made larger than IN others being IA
one place perhaps. $50 aud in another So &c These
filings are well known TO many, and are generally ac.
kpOWledged Ia need renedNng 80 tDal al teachers OF
fhe same grade NAV be paid alike. This it is claimed.
The new scheme utterly fails to do. notwithstanding the
81 W Isgn,ti1c the salaries OF new appoint
ncnt- and would thus take number OF years 10 1ug
the salaries of all TO an equal standard during "nch
time the old teachers continue to endure the njus
rice Cousderibl stress Is Land on the neglect OF
those who framed this schedule 10 PROVIDE IN Tor
proper reaGustment " the present salaries at an early
dan which h conceded by AL 10 De most important,
while they planned that 1t should eventually ake away
upward OF 500 900 from the eachofs-whc would thus
appear to be their main o0ject--nOtH .ahdlng mat
the unanimous voice OF the people ana the press Lad IN
sist ed that no reduction whatever should De made IN
ts respect; and this receives still stronger condemna
ton IRON the that the larger portion OF the decrease
is Intended 10 fan upon the female teachers, for whom,
instead the demand WAS made on all sides mat thcy
should Oe given more. -, .,. a..
scheme in detail many which have already been set
forth in THE TRIBUNE, such as tue low maximum PAID
Justly large discrimination between men and women IN
e0ual positions the slow increase in the upper grades,
c On the whole, though, IS felt by many OF these
who studied the subject OF saidries, it ASIDE
from these defects neither TINS nor any other new
schedule no matter how excellent should be adopted
would leave the present one III opeIauO TOO, hs
Instead of diminishing the evils nov resulting from the
latter IL would only add TO them by increasing the IN
cou1lites beside which constant complications would
ba likely 10 occur from the differ, workings OF the two
systems and trouble would nc caused IN the end
than 10y framing Of single simple plan which should
suppant entirely the present defective one. That TINS
wcuG not he altogether q hight task Is freely
admitted, but 1t held 70 be possible
n ony undertaken in the proper spirit and carried out
with due regard 10 the interests OF all concerned
While II is probable OF course that any change
that might be made III the salaries OF teachers
would provoke criticisms and create dissatisfaction. II
ia felt tnat disposition "a be just 10 all were shown,
and the full amount appropriated by the Board OF
Estimates this purpose this OF cOnrse the
commissioners could not go Dow-were fairly ap-
poroned among the teachers, most OF them realizing
the embarrassments attending the matter would Ioe-
near pressing their own particular claims fUr the
present while those any, who were unreasonaby dis
Satisfied could easily be ignored That the deysing OF
sncn measure within the ability of the members OF
the Board Of EtucatOn IS widely believed, and many
are looking 10 earnestly for sumo wise, liberal action
10 this end
THE FYUIRITION SCHEME