New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
7EACHERSDEFENDDAVLSLAW
II PAMPHLET THEY CHARGE BOARD OF
ESTIMATE WITH UTTERLY FAILING
TO COMPREHEND CITY'S EDU-
CATIONAL NEEDS
CATIONAL NEEDS.

/ There will be issued on Tuesday $1,000 copies of
pamphlet containing reports of the teachers as
Eociations OF the various boroughs an account
OF the circumstances leading to the passage of
measures Tor the adjustment OF teachers salaries
by the Legislature and defence Of the Davis law
The pamphlets be distributed among the
Legislators and other persons that may have some
influence on legislation affecting teachers In the
introduction the pamphlet says:
As il is certain that city wants the best teach
this cali be secured only through the best tea hers
We cannot get good teachers without paying them
woman can teach better if he or she can live with
through the schools and colleges that prepare
teachers IL costs money to get here as good teach
as hard as any employees OF the city. Their hours
tion, but they have 10 live all the year round,
and the vacations are made their account.
70 teachers. II we think the best Teachers none
TOO good for our children, we must do the best We
can by the educational system.
Members Of the School Boards. the pamphlet
says. who become acquainted with the work of the
teachers are advocates of higher pay for teachers
The conflicts on the subject are between School
boards and the Board Of Estimate. The failure
Of the schools do better work is declared to
be chiefly due their neglect by the Board al
Estimate. The pamphlet adds
To-day the average wages OF the educational de-
partment the lowest ~ those paid for brain
WORK in any department OF the city. Three years
cleaners and elevator boys Two years ago the
teachers could not get their wages without en-
gaging in lawsuits for them.
The state legislature finally passed a law that
ter wages The same iaw made it sure hat the
money could he had each year: This is the act
referred 20 frequently IN the following parasraphs
the Davis law II is hard 10 find member
of the boards appointed by our MAYOR TO maaaEf nag,
The presidents OF The School Boards and the le2d-
about is that ii puts the schools on a stable
basis
The teachers declare the recommendation Of the
Charter Revision Commission that the power Of
deciding what money shall he spent for school
purposes shall with the Board OF Estimate, 10
ne unwise They say it means return TO the
distressing conditions that the legislature enabled
the Board OF Education 10 remedy
w l.. Ettinger. president of the Teac hers As
seciaton Of Manhattan and The Bronx, in handling
the subject for the teachers of these boroughs out
lines the defects OF the old Holt schedule A
teacher. after working 70, rteen years. was then
OF large a salary a stree sweeper. He
touches the efforts relieve the situation that
did relieve. He reviews the failures OF the
Aheam
Speaking Of the Davis bill, he says:
No measure that was considered by the Legis-
lature of 1900 had the aearchlight of criticism
thrown On j. 10 such an extent as this pill Suffice
precedented bitterness conducted by the opponents
after full and impartial hearings before the com
mittee and later before the Governor, IL became a
The Following propositions concerning this meas
submitted.
First-It Was necessary, the city authorities hav-
ing shown their indspositiOn inability TO devise
one toG of yhe Tefu S pTGons Of the
opponents Of the measure has come to pass. No
school teacher is receiving salary greater than
that OF Cabinet oficer'' college president"
There have been suits against the city for back
pay or arrearages. although Mr. Coler estimated
that item alone would cost the city - 25O00G0.
Third-The added burden TO the taxpayer for the
1901 because teachers salaries is :
has been variouFly estimated by the Controller.
s. S06.O2 90 S6lOo0Dl o. S.0DO0oO.
How Mr COler make these statements when
he knows that the entire amount allowed 20 the
Department OF Education by the Board Of Esti-
mate for 1900 was sl.6l9lil: and the total amount
allowed for 1901 is Ss5l2A7 So increase Of SS93.
70S So which includes many other items besides
teachers salaries?
Fourth-The increase IN the budget. due 10 the
increase Of teachers salaries under Davis law
is gauge OF the former unjust and penny provi-
dent treatment Of teachers
Teachers calaries were ridicuously low that
II took a large sum o: money 10 raise them 10
proper standard.
are not eXtravagant in themselves. In fact. com
pared with salaries paid workers I'm other city
departments. they are moderate. The lowest regu-
lar salary pald 10 a woman teacher under this law
$500 The highest, after fifteen years Of mertori-
Gus service is 400 If she teaches girls 81 5o If
she teaches boys A very limited number teach
ers OF the highest class, may receive more. The
lowest salary paid 20 woman Typewriter IN tho
Controllers ofce is $500: the highest 81 300 Surely
the taxpayers of This city would recommend that
the salaries paid The who are intrusted
with the education Of their children should at
least equal the salaries paid 20 the women tyne
writers in the Controllers Office.
o. n. Clark writes for the teachers Of Brooklyn.
Matthew D. Quinn for those Of Queens and f
Donovan for Richmond
In summing up. the pamphlet charges the Board
educational needs Of the CITY.