Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-30
EQUALIZATION OF SALARIES.
New Adjustment Of the Pay Of Public
School Teachers.


New Adjustment Of the Pay OF Public
School Teachers.
An IMPORTANT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on
rEAcHsRs OF TIE SCHOOL BOARD AoRKKp 10
BY TIE TnusTKEs-cHASeEs IN sALARIKs-
NORMAL SCHOOL GRADUATES ASSIGNED.
The equalization of the salaries of teachers
in the public schools was the subject Of re-
port presented to the board Of trustees Of pub
he schools last evening by the committee on
teachers. Il was announced that all the salaries
had been adjusted under . new system and that
the longevity plan had been abolished with the
exception Of the pay Of the normal school grad
yates. II was stated that reductions were found
to be necessary in some cases and increases in
Others. The reductions, however, were about
one to four - compared with the number Of
salaries increased. The teachers in the eighth
grade were mainly affected by the reductions.
The report Of the committee stated that the
District appropriation bill provides for 745
teachers at an annual average salary not to ex-
coed $3.50. and appropriates the sum Of
Sooo.6OO. This is an increase over the year
just closed of fifty in the number of teach
ers, $40 IN the average amount Of salary and
S42Z9O In the aggregate amount Of teachers
salaries.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.
"All Of those restrictions" continues the re-
port, (which rendered the organization Of the
schools 30 different in the year Just passed are
retained in the existing appropriation act, with
two modlhcations, viz; The increase in the
average salary and the raising of the minimum
amount, above which no increase either in the
salary OF any teacher or in the number Of
teachers at any grade of salary can be made,
from $500 to $1,000.
your committee was also confronted at the
beginning of their task by two considerations
OF great weight. First, the assurance given TO
the appropriation committees Of the two
houses OF Congress on the part of the board
OF the firm intention of the board to equalize
salaries OF the teachers under its control; and
secondly, the intent and purpose Of the COM
mittees, plainly and repeatedly expressed
during the past few years. that in any
| revision of teachers salaries the So
called longevity system should not be
retained. That the present method Of
adjusting salaries could not be adhered
20 s9as without increasing the completely and
difhculty OF organizing and maintaining
the schools year by year and especially in view
OF the restrictions of the appropriation act
evidencing the opinion Of Congress, seemed to
your committee the only warrantable conclu-
Sion They therefore adopted the principles
referred disqualification and the abolition of
the longevity system as bases Of the new ad-
lustment
HOW THE SCHEDULE WAS FIXED.
"In order that the teachers might receive the
full benefit Of the provisions of the appropria-
ton act careful estimate was made of the
cost Of placing all teachers of each grade at the
maximum salary of that grade as provided in
the existing schedule. 1t was found that the
amount OF the appropriation would not Justify
such schedule by many thousands of dollars
whiie on the other hand large amount of
money wnnld Al A.
teachers placed at the minimum salary of their
respective grades. BY careful computation
OF the cost involved in each change a schedule
OF salaries was determined on the largest
salary being provided in each case consistent
with the needs of the school outside of the
graded system and the requirements of the ep-
preparation act.
THE LONGEVITY SYSTEM.
at was deemed wise to continue the loneey-
ity system in force now and for about three
years past by an order of the board in the
schools of the first and second grades, taught
mainly by recent graduates of our normal
school. the salaries in such grades being in no
case above $500. This exception to the rule of
abrogating the longevity system has met with
no opposition on the part of Congress which
arrived at the reduction Of the higher salaries
THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY
to be met in the work of adjustment arose from
the peculiar state Of salaries in the eighthgrade
schools and the entire lack of fexibility in at
tempting to remedy the matter owing to the
restrictions OF the appropriation act In this
grade nearly all the teachers received at least
Sl,OOO, while many received between that
amount and q, 5O0-the maximum paw of the
grade. The decision of the controller of the
treasury to the effect that any decrease
IN the number OF teachers in any grade
OF salary above $1,000, with a correspond
ing increase In the number at some lower
grade, also above $1,000, even though the ag-
gregate amount should not be increased, would
be contrary to the provisions of the appropri-
alton act, left practically but one solution of
the question--to assign all eighth-grade teach
ers now receiving 81 900 or more as principals
OF buildings, as far as practicable, at their
present salaries 1t is recommended that
teachers OF this grade who are assigned as prin-
cipals now receiving less than 81 900 be placed
at 1915, and all teachers Of this grade now re-
$780,
The report was adopted and ordered to be
printed.
THE SCHEDULE OF SALARIES
referred to in the report is as follows: First
and second grades-frst year, $500: second,
s425; third, $3.50; fourth, s475; fifth, s5oO:
third grade, $3.50; fourth grade, $3.50; fifth
grace, s.So; sixth grade, s775; seventh grade,
$3.50 to 81 500, inclusive.
SOME DIFFERENCES EXPLAINED.
An inquiry was made both by Mr.. White
and Mr.. Mitchell as to the cause of the
difference in the salaries of teachers in the
same grade. 1t was explained that the
longevity rule was applied to those teachers
receiving less than $500. Twenty-Five
dollars were added to their salaries for each
year of service. The normal graduates. it was
said, began with $500 salary, and received an
increase OF S25 each year independent of the
grade to which they were assigned
ASSIGNING NORMAL SCHOOL GRADUATES.
A resolution was adopted to elect the first
twenty-nine graduates of the Washington
normal school to teachers positions, to be as
signed later. The names of these graduates are
as follows: Charles X. Finckel, Emma Bettes.
Jane r. FURNACE, Mabel Coleman, Mary f..
Ossire, Myra NJ. Hendley, Margaret H Wasney,
Blanche Campbell, Susie NJ. Kuhner Edith w.
Meloy, Nellie M. Shields, Emma V. Dulin.
Anita Ulke, Maude NJ. Moore, Henrietta Helm,
rich, Sara Hartstall Mary E. Sheads Indiana
E. Mcpherson, Elizabeth A. Edmonds, Hem
rietta King, Minnie E. Mccormick, Mary q.
Stroner. Mary L. Squier, Mary A. Brooks.
Gertrude Musson, Margaret ]. Merillat, Lottie
c. Began, Nina Goetz and Lottie E. Denham.
On motion of DIR. Francis the first eight
graduates of the colored normal school were
elected to teachers positions.
ANATOMICAL cHARTs
The chair called the attention Of the board TO
the appropriation in the contingent fund of
$500 for the purchase Of anatomical charts.
He wished to know what disposition should be
made of this money!