The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-26

What Some of the Principals Think Of
the Proposed Schedule.
CUTTING DOWN AND LEVELLING UP.
Injustice to Teachers Of Long Service for
the Benefit OF Novces
WORSE THAN THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

The new schedule submitted by tho Committee on
Salaries and Economy OF the Board OF Education tor
that body's approval-heretofore published In tho
HERALp-is exciting much comment among those
directly interested. A HERALD reporter called upon
several OF the principals and teachers OF tho wara
schools to obtain their views upon the subject
PRINCIPAL MARTINS VIEWS.
Mr. Dwight Martin, principal OF Grammar School
No so, Twentieth ward, said that To dld not Ike the
proposed schedule at ALL aud did not regard It MS an
economical plan. He dIsapproved, most emphalically,
of making any alteration tho scale of salaries whilo
The Board OF Education was under the present
pressure OF tho Board OF Apporionment, and
deemed II unwise 10 touch the question Of
sal,rles until the relief asked tor Of tho
Legislature was granted. If the bills sent TO the Legis
Iaturc by the Board OF Education enacted as laws
il would regulate cverything but If the proposed
schedule was adopted would tend TO dsarrange tho
whole system, and, although the present system could
be Bothered, it was unwse to attempt 1t ut present.
For his part he would prefer TO have the reduc-
ton that is temporarily imposed upon tho leach
ers extend throughout tho year than TO have any
schedule offered adoption until the present embar-
rassment is removed.
MISS EDMuyps' OPINION.
Miss Clara NJ. Edmunds, principal OF Grammar
schedule principally because the salaries OF some Of
the most experienced teachers would be cut down and
those of the inexperienced ones raised By the pro-
posed schedule the highest salary 10 an assistant
teacher the female department is $3.50, decrease
In her department of $3.50. In school where three
male allowed young mar under this pro-
posed schedule just entering the profession and with
out any experience whatever, might get a salary of
Sl4O0 Three Of her best and most experienced
teachers would DO lowered, the highest would be re-
duced $3.50 The $3.50 and the next 500 by this
plan. Miss Edmunds did not think there was any need
OF reduction IL care was used in the apportonment OF
less important items. She thought, for instance, alb
sent teachers need full salary during the
time of their absence from duty as in most cases at
present. This single retrcnchment would do much
toward regulating school funds
MR. souTuERLAND's OBJECTIONS
Mr. Benjamin d. L. Switzerland, principal OF Gram
School No. g. Ninth ward disapproves OF The pro-
posed schedule strongly. His chief objection rests
upon the cutting down Of salaries that ought not 10 be
cut down. and OF salary where ought not
10 be increased ''For instance said this gentleman,
ain my own school OF my male assistants, who
has taught TOR twenty-five years IN the pubic schools
and salary OF 81 600, would be lowered
by this proposed schedule $780, the next male assist
ant has been teacher fifteen years. 81, sOO
VINO has only been teaching about nine months, re-
ceivcs s., 200, and would receive by tho proposed
schedule sl,400 There plan under consultation
among the trustees male principals and female prnc
pals Of both grammar and primary departments
whereby basis Tor a moro equitable adjustment
Of salaries may be established but II Is not sufficiently
matured to be submitted to tho Board Of Education
tor their consideration without giving the details
OF the plan, Mr. Switzerland SAID that the foundation
of the scheme tended toward regulating the system OF
salaries that the teachers OF The longest experience
greatest efficiency and best service. IN connection with
The average attendance OF the school, would
receive fair compensation for their scrvices-the
grades TO be determined by the CITY superintendent.
VICIOUS WARD SYSTEM
Mr.. George NJ. Mitchell, assistant teacher in Gram
mar School No H. Sixteenth ward, remarked mat IL
his opino ION that nearly all the teachers we're OPP
posed the schedule because II did not recognize
cxpericncc because in many cases 1t reduced greatly
the salaries teachers Of long service, who are ut
present but poorly paid. "There are" lie continued,
'.somc lady teachers OF long experience en-
ployed IN The primary depar whose salaries
less than 500, and they would be materially re-
duccd by the proposed schedule thnk INC teachers
would Ike 10 some system adopted that would
recognize length OF service without regard to tho
size OF the school II the new schedule were adopted
II would work harm not only to experienced teachers,
but the teachers OF small schools IN which the
work always arduous, AMI generally more so than
the character OF work the larger schools, Tor
that the routine work IS generally AS great
in small school large one and, under the average
attendance system, fewer teachers IN
the schedule they would receive less pay than
those doing the same character and amount OF work IN
the larger schools. 1 think that no plan of sal
be entirely fair but certainly no plan
approximate to fairness and equity until the
ward lines be abolished and the system OF promo
lions and graded salaries be adjusted plan similar
to nat in the navy Deserving could then be
promoted from one rank TO another, from ward TO
ward their pay determined by having maximum and
min mum salary for each OF the various classes OF
teachers that IN turn as vacancies occurred each
ones promotion would ne sure 10 come. The present
system oil ward lines operates against deserving teach
wards. and also against some OF tho
schools. In some wards, OWING 10 the decreased at
tcDdancc IL has been necessary under the present sys
ten, TO dismiss experienced teachers on account OF
rcduced attendance schools IN which they were
teaching, while IN some oil the upper wards inexper
eLced persons have been appointed. BY such an ex-
change the school system certainly loses good and
efficient teachers This grave defect might be remeded
by the abolition OF the ward lines as have stated.
MISS WRIGHT PRIMARY WRONGS
Miss Susan Wright principal of the primary DEPART
mcnt oil school No. So Eighteenth ward emphatic
IN her denunciation Of t1e proposed schedule The
primary schools she said, were the most important
tho neglected Of the whole system OF educa-
tion In city schools, aud the proposed schedule
affected these departments The most Every primary
school in the city had suffered in the past from the
great disparity between the salaries OF the primary
and grammar schools, and would suier IN the future
from the proposed discrepancy contained in the new
schedule. This thing, SAID Miss Wright, vehemcnty,
"works In this way. They send in raw professional
rccruts-grls utterly unframed and unskilled III the
profession as teachers. though they have certificate
OF scholarship-and place such girls in charge OF a
class OF nifty lutte children who are to be
trained in cverythlng-undergoDg n process not
unlike the soil that is cultivated Tor seed SOWING,
aud then send them up light OF stairs 10 the gram
department., Immediately reduce the class TO an av-
yve and place under the care OF higher
saaricd teacher without any advance IN the studies.
The proposed schedule would make the inequality OF a
SUI cast character, because IT would sui
continue the inequality without the occasional chance
OF advancing well qualified assistant l have been
SO dshearlened ut the proposed schedule that have
not looked 10 To what degree IL Will Affect my as
gistanis. II the salaries need TO be cut down they
should DO cquaizcd between the primary
and grammar schools" She cited as com
parlson that the grammar schools, with an
attendance OF only 3S,372 pupils, employed
iIs6 teachers exclusive OF special ,eachersl thcii
salaries amounting TO total oil $1,000, I'll In The
primary school the average attendance was G2, Ali
pupils, with only 1892 teachers, their aggregate
salaries amounting to only 1854 lao, and yet the new
schedule would reduce that sum. Miss Wright cx
pressed herself dissatisfied with both the present scale
md proposed schedule because both wero unjust ant