The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-09
The TEACAERQUESTI0N
Another Public School Principal Gives Opinion
About Controllers Remarks
believes They ARE UNJUST
Says That if the Board of Control Paid
Reasonable Salaries It Gould Com
mand the Entire Time of Those
They Employ as Teachers-Proceeds
to Make Some Comparisons on the
Salary Question.

The recent interview in The TRI-
BUNE in which the remarks of mem
Der of the board of control was quoted
to the effect that it was the intention
of the board to increase the salaries of
principals, but that it would be accom-
panied by wedding out OF those who
do not devote their whole time to
teaching, caused no end of comment
among the principals of the city
schools.
All manner of comments were in
dulged in. many of which were not fa-
vorable to the wisdom of the control
ler, whose remarks, it might be we'll to
have understood here, were directed
against those principals who, in his
opinion, neglected the duties of their
positions because they We're so en-
crossed in other occupations in which
they were engaged us side issues.
Saturdays TRIBUNE contained an
earnest protest from one Of the prin-
cipals of the city concerning the re-
marks of the controller quote.. Another
gentleman, who is one of the best
known educators in the city. was met
yesterday by u TRIBUNE reporter and in
the course of discourse on the meri is
of the controllers position the teacher
said:
THINKS CONTROLLER UNJUST
"For school controller to boldly
assert that there are many incompetent
teachers employed as principals IN our
city schools, without giving facts is M.
just and unfair. II his assertion has
an element of truth in it why not make
a sweeping reform now? The task will
no just as difficult and unpleasant
year hence as it would be to-day. A
controller who knows that incompetent
teachers are employed, even for a year,
is unjust to himself and the ward he
represents, if he holds his silence in the
board Of control. Newspaper talk
about the incompetency of teachers is
not what the people want. They want
a man who has the courage to act when
he faces incompetent work.
Procrastination is the thief of time,
and the man who employs knowingly
workmen robs the puClic
vault. Are these charges correct and
founded on fact Let US see. Every
teacher holds certificate which affirms
his competency and which the board
cannot disregard. Second, the super
ntendent has put tue stamp of his ap-
proval on our work by not condemning
it. He is the judge and overseer, and
as long as he commends our work he is
the responsible party and not US.
OUTSIDE OCCUPATIONS.
"There is more truth than poetry in
his statement concerning work done
outside of the school doors Some of
US are in building and loan associations,
some in law, some in real estate, some
ehstocks and bonds, some in newspaper
work. in fact all but one or two are en-
gagged in work not strictly pedagogical.
But, my friend. the great mum ber EN- =
ployed in other work than school teach
ing argues conelusively the absolute
necessity of such work, If 50 per cent
of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western foremen were to engage in
work outside OF their regular employ
ment for the sake of q few extra dol
lars, you would not, owing to the num-
Der doing such work, draw the couclu-
sion that the fCremen were penurious
men and money makers, but in reason
you would admit that their compensar
ton was not enough.
IF a lawyer engages in real estate it
is because his practice does not pay.
If physician begins to lecture around
the country 1t is because his business
does not pay. Let reason enter into
our case and the people will support
us. Prove to the people that we are as
well paid as teachers doing similar
work in cities Of so. 900 or 10000, and
they will demand orr whole time, but
as long as We are 30 per cent. below
the average salary made from twenty
cities nearly our own size. they are
willing to do Us justice The people
want good schools and are willing to
pay for them, and were it not for the
active opposition of one member of the
board, the salaries Of many principals
would have been raised several years
ago.
Il voice the sentiment of our teach -
ers just as correctly as the member of
the board voiced the sentiment of con-
trollers when he said they wanted
sweeping reform. Igive you the best
thought of our best teachers, CLEANED