The New York herald., 1877-03-01
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE QUESTION OF REDUCING SALARIES vIGoR-
oUsLY DEALT WITH PROTESTS RECEIVED
AND REDUCTIONS MADE.
The readjourned meeting OF the Board OF Education
took place yesterday afternoon. to further consider the
report OF the Committee Salaries Economy.
After miscellaneous reports commun cation read
from the trustees oi the common schools sixteen sig
natures atached), presenting their objections to SO
much OF tho report OF the COMMITTEES Salaries
Economy refers to the payment Of teachers based
onihe grades OF saares claiming that largo number
Of the teachers who teach tho higher classes ana
long in the service would bcr salaries decreased
fifteen per cent In some instances while those who
have been employed but few years will have their
salaries increased at the expense OF tho former
class 1t also claimed that the reduction Of salaries.
should be pro all the employees of the Board OF
Education, including principals and vice principals
Further tue meeting respectfully requested that ACTON
on the report the Committee Bylaws be deferred
by the Board OF Education until such uturc time as
enable the respective boards OF trustees more par
ticuarly to present objections.
The clerk Then read commit ication, signed by 246
principals and vice principals, Offering a protest
through Commissioner Watson against the method
proposed reduce the salaries OF the teachers, and
requesting that they be allowed TO participate IN any
change that IS necessary to make in the teachers
salaries
Commissioner West submitted a minority report
from himself opposing the adoption OF tho report.
These and all other papers relating TO the subject were
referred To the Committee oil the Whole.
ARGUMENT REDUCTION.
The Board then resolved itself into COMMITTEE Of
the Whole tho report discussed item by item.
Commissioner Walker opposed the reduction OF the
antors salaries more than ten per cent as many pro-
posed should be done. Commissioner Watson cobsid-
cred that rate OF payment averaging 81 900 per year,
with house rent and fuel free. is exorbanl, the posi-.
tons being desirable ones, and could be filled without
difficulty. He moved that instead o ten Dor cent,
twenty per cent be taken IRON their pay, which was
finally adopted. A spirited debate cnsued upon tho
OF the salary OF tho Engineer OF the Board OF
Education from 81 900 to s., 500 but the motion TO
reduce finally carried.
the abolition OF the position of special teachers Of
'science and philosophy In the schools OF the FIJI
tccnth ward, saving 5000. was adopted. Tho item
restricting the leaves OF absence OF tho teachers was
adopted 1tcm No. 10, providing for the reduction of
the salaries OF The instructors employed in Saturday
OF the Normal College nfiy per cent, was
warmly opposed by President Wood, who thought
their salaries TOO large Tor the work they per-
formed. The item, however was csrricd, at SAVING
to the city OF 81, 254 Item No II, referring to tho
consolidation OF the junior and senior departments of
Grammar School No. Al, TO take place at the beginning
OF the school term September next, saving ST. 900,
was adopted.
THE EVENING SCHOOLS.
A prolonged discussion ensued when tho item refer
ring 10 tho evening schools was reached President
Wood thought that under the present system the
! mon evening schools did moro harm than good. The
children were glad to get out IRON under their parents
control and not than fit i've per OF them
went 10 the evening schools He hoped therefore, they
would be closed during the months OF October, Novem.
her and December. This suspension would he caicu-
lated, bc savng Of about 100000, which, with the
would IN these two items alone make every hing
safe and smooth. His theory was opposed by Com
missioners Watson and Gouding, and tho schools
were voted not to bc closed The salaries
OF the teachers, however, reduced, saving
$6,7SO. Commissioner Watson advocated the abolition
OF all but English branches in the schools, saying
would save the $4,000. Item No. Is, providing for
the reduction OF the salaries of the principal and
assistants IN the Evening High School, was tempo
rariIy laid the table Item No IL, suspcnding oven
ing schools Nos. 43, 90 G3 and GS, adopted, the
estimated SAVING beng 81, 800 AT this Juncuro the
Committee OF the Whole and reported progress ts
tho Board OF Commissioners
Mr.. Walker offered resolution that a deduction b'
made OF three and half per from all the pay roll
OF the Board OF Education except those OF the super
intendcn, and assistant, for the month of March, 1877
This reduction OF the salaries OF teachers and cmploye
shall be restored and made good to such teachers
employees for the month of December, 1871 II such ac
tion shall then be justified by the financial condtion
the Board. President Wood called COMMISSIONS
Wheeler to the chair and offered amendment to th
resolution suspcnding all action until the course of th
Legislature IN regard TO the salaries OF the city
poycs shall be known. Tais was lost the original mt
ton carried and the meeting adjourned