The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-22
SCHOOL TEACHERS PAY
Facts Shown in the Annual Esti-
mates>of the Board of Education.
a Minority of Those Giving pubiic
Instructions Work for Annual
Salaries of Less Than 5000
How Some of the Women Apply
Their Enrnings-A $50 Example.

| Some significant facts are presented
| OF the District in the schedule of esti-
mates recently submitted to the Commits
sicners by the Board of Education. The
estimates presented were for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1902, but they show
what ii is expected the teachers in the
public schools will be paid during the
school year beginning next September.
According to the schedule it is recon-
mended that one teacher shall receive
So, $50: eight $500 each; four $4,000 each;
FIVE 81, 500 each; three. $1,000 each; six,
81 500 each; five, $1,000 each; ffty-one,
81. 200 each; three. s1,100 each, and sew
enty-one, $1,000 each.
Thus far probably there could be no
cause of complaint, for whether at school
keeping or at other pursuits, the salaries
ranging from 81 900 to S2750 per annum
would be considered good. That is to say.
the average person or the average family
can be maintained comfortably on the
amounts given to these teachers. The
average salary in this class is upward
of 81 240--as much as the average pay in
the departments of the National Govern
ment.
But il is when we descend along the
column of estimated teachers salaries
trlt the real significance of the situation
pears. From the $1,000 point the sala-
lies diminish rapidly until the lowest is
s425. II the recommendations of the
School Board are carried out Is teachers
will receive $3.50: q will receive $500;
IA. ss75; I6, $3.50: SIS. $685.; SO, $780, ~,
s775; 1872, S7O0; 4. $685. 49, $3.50; 26, 5000;
8, s575; 15S. $3.50; ., s525; ISL. $500; 50.
s475; JOS. $780, and so teachers, s425.
Here are 1896 teachers whose salaries
will range from $500 to Si2o, the average
being trife over s63l. This class may
be said to be underpaid for the service
that Is required Of them. The majority
of course, are women: but when the cost
of living and for necessary clothing Is
deducted, there is little. if anything. left
for the savings bank or for the rainy day
which they are all expected to teach their
nunils is coming with sickness and old
age.
How One Teachers Earnings Go.
A teacher now employed in the schools
who receives the annual stipend of $3.50
per annum, somewhat above the average
of the class to which reference is here
made. told reporter of The Times Sat
urday how she managed with her meager
salary The young woman in question
was not complaining of her lot, but SEEM
ed happy and in good spirits. and volun-
teered the information willingly on the
condition that she should not be connected
with the publication of the
facts. She said:
my room and hoard cost me Sc week
when ! am In Washington. and that is all
the time. except few weeks in summer
when / go North to escape the heat and
to rest. II you are good at figures you
will see that i spend in this way $312
We will call 1t $500, as during the year
| generally have to entertain few friends
for brief periods, which brings the ex-
pense up about to the limit. You may now
put down about $500 for clothes, as ] cal
culate 10 spend that amount each year. l