The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-30
TEACHERS PROTEST
THEY DECLARE THE EARLY
CLOSING OF MINNEAPOLIS
SCHOOLS UNJUST.
HAUGAN SENTENCED TO JAIL.
-FOUR MONTHS BEHIND BARS AND
TO PAY FINE OF
$1,000.
HAUGAN SENTENCED TO JAIL.
MosHIK HEARS HIS SENTENCE.
ArchambO Again Eyicted by Fire
General News of the MIL
City.

The public school teachers of the
city of Minneapolis broke a long 81
lence yesterday afternoon and entered
a protest against the early closing of
the schools and the consequent reduc-
ton in their salaries.
From the day the announcement was
first made that lack Of funds would
compel the shortening of the present
school term the teachers of the city
have maintained dignified silence.
They have not publicly and have only
to small extent privately, discussed
the question which has been agitating
almost every other class of citizens for
several months past. This is true too,
in spite of the fact that they more
than any others-eXcepting perhaps
the school children-would be serious
ly effected by the proposed move.
The time to act they believed, how
ever had finally arrived, and yester-
day the gathered in the lecture room
of Plymouth church, several hundred
in numbers, and adopted a written
protest, declaring it to contain-in ev-
cry essential the sentiments of all Of
the 800 teachers who are fostering the
intellects of the younger generation of
this city.
When Mrs. George Harrison. presi-
dent of the Teachers club, called the
meeting to order. every seat and ev-
cry bit of standing room was occu-
pied. Mrs. Harrison stated briefly the
objects of the meeting. The teachers,
she said, had, until the present time,
allowed others to discuss a question
which was of utmost Importance 20
them. They had refrained from taking
part in a controversy. the settlement
of which might mean serious incon-
venience to many of them and urt-
doubted injury to every citizen of Min
neapolis. Matters had, however, reach
ed that point which demanded atten-
ton and action on the part of the
teachers, and for this reason a paper
had been prepared, expressive Of the
sentiment of the teachers, which it
was hoped would be unanimously
adopted. President Harrison then in
troduced Miss Forester, principal Of
Blaine school, who had prepared the
paper referred to in conjunction with
other teachers, and who read 1t:
The paper stated that it was pro-
posed to made good a deficit of $230,000
in the public treasury by deducting
-
class of city employees, the most poorly
paid. comparatively, of all classes in
the city's employ, namely, the teachers.
Could there be found, the paper ask
ed, 800 other citizens who, out of their
earnings, would be willing to make
good 50 great deficit. The express
sion heard so often, that the schools
were very expensive. was another sub
ject touched upon. There was no great
er allacy, the paper said. Salaries
and expenses Of the public schools of
Minneapolis were then compared with
those prevailing in other cities of the
United States, and in every instance it
was shown that the salaries paid in
Minneapolis were considerably less
than those paid in the other cities
named. 1t was also shown that the
schools here were no more expensive
in other directions than elsewhere.
A section of the paper was devoted
to a statement of the manner in which
teacher spent her money, showing
her necessary expenditures for board,
etc. When all such expenses had been
paid there was little left for pleasure
of any sort.
Salaries paid the teachers were COM
pared with those paid other city en-
ployes. The watchmen on the bridges,
the dump keeper of the health depart
ment, elevator attendant at the city
hall, pipeman in the fire department,
police patrolmen, oilers at the water
works and janitors in public schools
were all shown to receive higher SAL
aries than the average teacher, who
must spend many years preparing her
self for her position.
Great interest marked the reading of
the paper and the salient points were
accorded liberal applause.
A motion was presented declaring
the paper to be an expression of the
sentiments of all of the 800 school teach
ers Of the city, which motion by a
rising vote was unanimously adopted.
Prior to it's adoption, Prof. Marie San
ford, of the university, briefly addressed
the teachers. She was proud, she said,
of the fact that she was a member Of
the Teachers club, and proud also that
the teachers had arisen in a protest
against the proposed closing of the
schools and the reduction of salaries.
The good book said that there was a
time to be silent and a time to speak.
She believed that the time to be silent
had passed and that the time to speak
had arrived, and she was glad that the
teachers had made up their minds to
speak She was sure good results would
follow the action taken.
Before the meeting adjourned it was
decided to join the Society Of Litera-
be delivered by DR.. Richard Burton IN
Minneapolis. The club also voted TO
join the State Federation of Teachers
clubs and appointed President Mrs.
George Harrison and Miss Nadine
Crump, recording secretary, as dele
gates to the federation.