New-York tribune., 1886-05-14
BETTER PAY FOR FEMALE TEACHERS
FLEA IN BEHALF or SENATOR MURPHY's BILL
COMMISSIONER HOLT CRITICISED.
10 me EdffOr OF The Tribune.

FLEA IN BEHALF or SENATOR MURPHY's BILL
COMMISSIONER HOLT CRITICISED.
70 me Editor OF the Trtbmne.
SIR: AT the last meeting of the Board OF Ed
"cation. Commissioner Holt introduced resolution OPP
posing tho passage OF Senator Murphys bill which pro-
Vdes that tho female OF this city shall receive
not less than 65 per OF the salaries paid to male
teachers In like positions. The reasons for Mr..
hoits opposition to this emnently righteous
measure as he states them, are: First, "It wonld
take out OF tho hands OF the proper local authority
'he power to administer in important par
tcnar tho school affairs OF the city In accordance with
It's Judgment In the first place the power OF the Board
to regulate salaries is destroyed it Is only limited
ny an extremely Just provision Secondly. such an OBJ
econ can have but little force in view Of the fact that
TWO OF three years ago the Legislature fixed tho salaries
boh OF the policemen and the cinen. thus entirely
removing the control OF that important particular "
from the hands Of the Police and Fire Commissioners
Mr Hots second objection is ths " 1t would restore
the Inequality OF payment for equal positions which
has existed in schools previous this year. an evil
which the present system has been designed TO remove
II that the purpose Of the present systcm 1t Is most
deplordblo failure When Mr. Holt introduced his "only
true and perfect cquaH ton schedule" ne was sur
prlsed at the storm which 1t aroused. The female
teachers on the other hind were proportionately as
tonshed that scheme should be considered just which
ntov,cd tDat all female teachers OF tho same graz
should have the same salary without regard TO the mum
hcr OF pnpls taught while Il was nigod necessary 20
take the size of the in arranging
tHo compensation OF the male assistants. Yet tins
was according to Mr.. Holt. fair
ana equitable plan, and he met
opposition with TIE nnnlhating argument TINT the
female teachers dd not know what they were talking
abon' This s the equality which the Board OF I'd ica-
uou ohleets to having tampered with.
Mr. Hollis next objection is: "Itwoud disturb the long
existing relation between female teachers saatcs In
primary, female grammer and male grammar schools
IN favor o that class witch s generally held to DO as
well paid as. or better than the others In proportion TO
me ailicnlty or tho Importance Of tno work | mus,
confess that this Is beyond my feeble comprehension
supp0se the au hor know what meant by 1t. but
doubt II he Intended any else TO understand IT,
HIS fourth and last objection tho lack Of funds Is the
only valid II there Ia not money enough IL cannot
be done this year. However where there Is will there
IL way. Lot loss he spent expensive stationery,
books and printing and the board might exc out enough
money to be just Laying aside tho question OF right It
IL disgrace TO the Board Of Education OF the first city
OF tho Union 10 havc passed. such set OF constructe
badly worei resolutions and pc and believe that
the Assembly OF the of NewYOrk is too just aud
too grammatical TO be Influenced by thon. j. G.
Netc- York, May IL, 1856.