The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
SCHOOL TEACHERS TROUBLES.
A Cry Against Favoritism from Normal
College Graduates.
PLANS FOR RETRENCHMENT.
The January Salaries Pro-
vided for.


ucn is expressed by Of the graduates Of the Nor
NAL College who have applied Tor positions as teachers
In number Of wards, but have been unable TO secure
them having they assert political influence or
friends on terms Of intimacy with trustees. IL Is
questioned, and not without some justice, whether
he Office Of trustee Ia secured by these
gentlemen particular favor, anordng
them an opportunity to put In position their own
friends, and Ignoring those young ladies who though
graduating with merit, are unable to obtain positions
because they lack political influence IL Is suggested
as a remedy TO transfer the power OF appointment
from these local boards to the Board Of Education
Then each year the Normal College sends out class
Of graduates list OF their according to merit
should be sentto the Board OF Education that whom
cachcr required any part of the city the fact
be made known to the Board and the vacancy oiled by
q young lady from the list mentioned, beginning OF
course with the most merltorious.
reporter OF the HERALD yesterday called upon
several OF the nm OF tho Board OF Educa
ton to learn their opinions concerning it, and met
with the following
FAyoRrTIsM AND HIGH SALARIES
Mr. James N. Halsied was found in his Office No. 100
Broadway, and in response TO the inquiry for his opn
ion upon the subject replied that he thought 1t
what ought TO be DONE Az least he considered that
the Board OF Education ought to have voico in the
appointment OF all teachers, not only the principals
and vice principals, but the assistant teachers also.
He said that the graduates Of the Normal College he
believed had the preference, and II was simply
because there were not vacancies enough TO
afford positions Tor all who applied that there
we're not employed. II there was
any injustice done by the in the appointment
OF teachers the Board OF Education should no, be
sured for they could help. In regard TO the
salaries OF the teachers Commissioner HaIsted said
that he thought when teacher first began her salary
should be lower than $500 year, which Is now the
minimum; $500 he considered about n fair price for
the frs. year and then she could work up higher
salary.
A
President Wood said most emphatically that he
thought the preference OF the local boards. their
selection OF teachers, generally gwen to their
friends, and he considered 1t perfectly abomina-
bic Without regard to friendship IL should he given
TO the applicant who best qualified. The
Commissioners were held responsible for the we'll
working OF the whole common school system OF the
city, yet they did have the direct appointment OF
a single teacher He thought that the appointment of
principal and vice principal should be vested IN the
Board of Education absolutely, and that, while allow
ing the nomination of assistant teachers to remain
with the trustees Of the several wards the contrma
ton should rest with the Board OF Education. He in
dorscd the proposition OF having list Of the gradu-
ates sent TO the Board, and thought it would work
with much more justice than the present system.
Mr.. Hunter, the President of the Normal College, in
reply inquiries put by the reporter, remarked that
the yearly cost OF the Normal College $4,000
The annual expense Of the primary school connected
with it, which accommodates 500 children in that
ward was SIS oOo and the Saturday school for teach.
ers cost about So OOO Last year this college gradu-
atcd about 233 pupils; about two-thrds OF this num-
Der obtained positions in the public schools. There
tnnel lYfrn nfghfa in
sitons An irregular system O appointments had grown
up which 1t was difficult to remedy. Appointments,
to his certain knowledge in many places, had not been
made according TO Some oi the best scholars
ATTEST graduates mad been kept out OF positions
while those vastly inferior had received appoint
mcnts Immediately upon graduating rom the college
In TACT. he had heard OF where positions had
! been promised long before graduation. He was ex-
tremeIy that some system might be devised
by some competent. authority by which meritorious
graduates could be appointed IN the order OF merit
COMPETITIVE SYSTEM.
A letter signed MANY Taxpayers has been received
at The HERALD office proposing plan by which 1t is
ella med $780, go can be saved the CITY. The pan
briefly stated is. that the Board OF Education shall
have examining committee, empowered to give u
certificate of competency to any competent person
who applies Tor such a certificate. Wner a vacancy
that vacancy 10 DO hied by that person hold
certificate who offers to do the work Tor the low
est salary. The advantages OF the system are stated
rs iollows:
firsThs will down the high priced salary given
ana reduce II by competition to mar1et value:
Nerypf-it VIII 40 away with all iavoritisn,
OF all employed who are Obliged to give iavors for iavors
IoarhIt will give iul and fair salary according tho
times and S25OoOo the oveburdened OF
PRESIDENT HUNTERS VIEWS
A HERALD reporter waited upon President Hunter to
ascertain hs views OF the proposed plan. President
Hunter remarked that IL would dcmoraZe the whore
system oiteducaton 10 follow such advice Human be-
ings were not ike merchandise TO be experimental
upon by incompetent hands A cheap teacher was
dear at any price-it was no teaching at all 1t was
better to have child unlaugnt than instructed i'm
If tnn
to offer positions TO the lowest bidder.
And II lady accepted "A POSITION upon
low salary II she good teacher u would be in-
creased and what was the difference whether IL
first or last? These young ladies had served a long APP
premiership 10 enable them TO discharge their duties
as teachers The average age OF lady teachers was
nineteen before they earned single doar-the pre-
vlons time being spent in the study ct nelr
particle much to start upon, and, unlike the po-
stions IN counting houses Tor young men, WHO had
before them WIDE career with high promotions, this
position Tor lady at the best only yielded 81 900
year. TO reduce the salaries OF the lower teachers In
The primary schools wound cripple the whole system
OF public educatiou, aud II there that good
tenc were most needed.
President Wood, when questioned upon the subject
OF reduction salaries SAID that far was con-
the salaries should not be reduced atom.
The highest salary CIV II to lady teacher was 81 900
year, aud that not gwen TIL they had been
fifteen years in tue schools some of the
principals in the grammar schools paid
cpals only receive 81, 600, while In the common
evening schools they get S. per night unless the
attendance Is Wnen they receive 81
night The male assistants get So night and the ie
teachers the male evening schools get SO %.
The principals OF the evening high schools get $40 80
per week, but all professors and teachers get So a
night He did think they paid bit much,
Tor IL was hard work.
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS ALARMED.
Mr.. George H. Albro Principal oil Grammar School
g. ana also secretary OF The Committee OF Principals
vas questioned regard to the cutting down o. the
salaries yesterday. He informed the reporter thai
principals OF the city o! New YORK had three
cations-vlz, The Association OF Male Prin-
cpais, The Association of Female Principals OF
the Grammar schools, and The Association
,oi Primary Principals. These associations OF long
standing and were organized TO promote tho general
welfare OF the schools under their charge The Com
mttee OF Principals Is composed or SIX members from
each of these assoclatiUns maklng IN ali committee
of eighteen. Naturally enough, they are little
anxious about. their salaries, and a meeting
was held recently to discuss the subject sub.com-
nttee was then appointed for the purpose OF looking
INTO school expenses 10 see II they could not pre-