Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-05
THE PAY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.
on Account OF the Pro
posed Reduction.

THE ACTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD SAID TO
BE ILLEGAI-yTIAT PRESIDENT BAUM SAYS
ABOUT 1.-THE CLAIMS OF TEACHERS IN THE
FIRST EIGHT GRADES.
At the last meeting of the school board the
committee on teachers made n report, showing
that he appropriation for teachers salaries
came S12. $50 short Of "the amount required to
pay the annual salaries at the legal schedule
rates." The committee suggested that the most
practical method TO meet this difficulty was for
the board tn order n retention CT 81 per cent OF
the salaries of the teachers and to request Con-
gress to appropriate n sufficient amount to pay
the aries as per schedule. The board adopted
a resolution requesting trustees 10 call meet
ings Of teachers in their respective divisions 20
submit to hem the question Of a retention Of
3D. per cent. OF their salaries, and IN case
IN. teachers cousentei TO the retention 10 nae
the pay-ro,ls for the current month made out
accordingly. The question was submitted at
teachers meetings as proposed. and tine pro-
posed retention was agreed to by vote. There
were, however, many teachers who opposed 1t,
and a number, 1t is said, have decided not to
sign the pay-rolls made ont on the reduced
scale. The pay-rols have been made out and
viii be ready Tor the signatures of the teachers,
IL is said, on Wednesday. Since the teachers
meetings were held in several of the divisions
the matter has again been considered by
teachers, and considerable dissatisfaction
at the arrangement has been manifested
In some Of the divisions, 1t appears. the matter
was not thoroughly explained to tine teachers.
TQ.
To suggest the retention, were actuated by the
best motives. Tie teachers committee which
went out oI existence IN July was revived by q
ruling OF The president pro tenn. OF the board
only few days before the schools opened and
had IL Is stated, only q limited time TO consider
tle important matters brought before it. They
adopted IN this case what appeared 20 the COM
intttee 10 be the wisest solution of the difficulty
Some grave points have, however arisen which
bring the wisdom of this action of the commit
tee and the board into question.
PRESIDENT BAUMS VIEWS
W. WIN. ii. Baum, president of the board
VINO signed the report referred to a member
OF the committee On teachers, has, after more
mature reflection, concluded that the expedient
ADOPTED by the committee will prove to be an
Injustice and "a source OF difficulty in the future
we are not so likely to get u deficiency APP
propIlat.on, said Mr.. Baum to a STAR reporter
today, eff we cut down the teachers all along
the line rs we would be if we made the reduc-
ton upon number of the teachers who receive
higher pay. That is not, however the consid-
Grafton that has Influenced me. i am very
doubtful whether the action of the board is le-
gal. The teachers of the first eight grades have
cannot ignore. These teachers, believe,
would have a claim which the courts
would maintain against the District.
ii tncy were paid less than the salaries fixed by
law. vt least all those in employment in 1877,
when the Commissioners. in pursuance of law
of Congress. approved the salaries then paid
teachers. and thereby gave them the force of
law, would have valid claims. The salaries of
teachers for the first eight grades was then es-
creased the pay of male teachers in the eighth
glade OF The supervising principals. of teachers
number of special teachers. These increases
had and have my approval. The supervising
principals. male eighth grade teachers and
others Increased do not receive any more than
they ought To get, and their pay is no
larger than it ought to be to secure
good service. But then salaries have been
increased 10y the action of the board. and the
increased salaries. according 10 my view can
not be paid if CONGRESS fails to make :. suffi-
GENTLY large appropriation This question arose
last year salaries of supervising principals
and others had been increased by the board AS
the appropriation was not large enough to pro-
vide FOR these increases, the teacher, affected
actually received only much of the increase
as the appropriation warranted. In the present
case 10 carry out the plan of retaining 3D. per
tient 20 taxing the teachers VINO receive small
salaries. fixed by law, to make up the large sal
.rie' which have no authority of law other
than the approval of the school board. 1t is
only just. l think, that the teachers
should understand their rights before they
finally decide this question by signing the pay
rolls The first eight grades constitute the back
bone of the public school system. There are
about 800 teachers employed in theese schools
schools and as special teachers. The interests
involved in the first grades are greater. While
favor developing the high schools, so far as
our money will permit. would not do it at the |
cost of the first eight grades. The proposed re-
tentiOn OF 81 per cent has already done much |
damage to the schools The teachers naturally |
provide for the higher salaries of other teach |
ers. Then they are uneasy because they do not |
know what may happen TO them next year. |
Ihey are in a frame of mind not calculated to |
bring out their beet efforts as teachers |
II the loss could be stated in dollars and cents
would estimate the loss cntailed upon our |
schools by this reduction OF salaries in affect
ing the teaching in the schools at fully 500. |
900. would like the teachers all 10 under |
stand their rights, and to know just what the |
situation Is. feel impelled by sense of duty |
TO take the position have.'-
wi Ill the matter be reconsidered by the |
school board?" asked the reporter. |
1T now rests entirely with the teachers" |
,aid Mr.. Baum.
''W nat, il any. of the teachers referred to Ar
,ept the reduced pay? -
O. Then" said Mr. Baum 81 suppeSe the mat.
er would be referred to the school board In |
my opinion it is right that no teacher should |
Of her rights, for in such case think her claim
against the District would be more than lust |
This deficiency, l think, will not amount to |
much more than 81 900 at the end of the wear. |
md according to my calculation the amount OF |
Increases granted by the board since 1877 is
greater then the present deficiency In Justice |
to myself and my colleagues want to say that
The school board have acted in this matter as
hey thought for the be>, Interest OF the schools
\ sense OF duty impels me to make the state
nenf have to YOU. / may not remain on the |
board much Longer. and could not quit office |
with q clear conscience if consented to any
hing that looked like decciving the teachers as
TO their rights
The Strong Case.