Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-28
Teachers of Council Bluffs
Strongly In Favor Of Longer
School Year
WOULD DANISH FREE TEXT BOOKS
Money Spent for Them Would Have
to Be Used for the Increased Wages
Owing to Lack of Funds-Teachers
Antasonistic to system-Month's Va
cation Enough.
Special to Times Republican.


/ Council Bluffs, March 2S.-The teach
ers of the city are agitating a longer
school year, from nine to ten months.
Owing to the lack of funds in the school
| treasury, however, it would be impos-
sible to lengthen the term this year. 1t
lis argued that by the abolishment of
| the tree text book system, which may
be attempted at the next school cleo
ton, more funds would be available,
and that the term may ha heightened
one or possible one and Il half months.
| The free text book System is said to
have proven Very unpopular among
nearly all the teachers on account of
the amount of extra work 1T involves
as Well as the annoyssrces and hard
feeling which the system of fines has
created in a number of cases among
the parents and patrons of the schools,
who object to paying the asss ssments
made by the teachers on pupils who
have damaged the books.
A principal of one Of the city schools
in an interview published in the Nom
pareil said:
The free taxi book system in this
city has been, as / have observed, a
dismal failure. 1t has almost doubled
the work of the teacher without extra
recompense, and has been great drain
on the school treasury.
Everywhere the sentiment of long
Ell term of school for children is grow
ing. 1t would be impossible to secure
funds for a longsr term mere while tho
free system of text books is in opera
ton.
Take in the smaller grades with
three months vacation he pupils prac-
tically forget what they have covered
in the other nine. On account of long
vacations which are given now the
teachers are obliged to again go over
so much ground that has been covered
the year before. Then vacations OF
such lkngth are most undesirable for
the pupils, who waste their energy in
mischievousness when Il might as we'll
he directed in useful channels.
"A months vacation in plenty long
enough for both teachers and pupils. 1
think school could very comfortably
b. carried on during the entire months
of June and July. The neat Is not any
more severe in these months than Ia
the latter part of May. The buildings
are cool
This would also solve the Krea;
problem which has been confronting
s.icllers. We are the poorest paid
class of professional workers. A NUM-
Der of teachers and myself We're re-
Gently discussing the matter and we
compiled table of statistics in regard
to the wages and the living expenses
in this city. IL you care 10 look over ii
here is the table. Now each one of us
talked with some person who is we'll
versed in the cost of living in this city.
and here is what we compiled from the
results of figures for 3 year given us
by people who know what they are
talking about:
Room. board and service, $3.50: !
clothing. $3.50: newspapers. magazines
ard professional periodicals. Sill; books,
$40; churches and charity, SIS; amuse- |
ments, concerts and lectures, SIS; car
fare and travels not recreative, SIS: |
expense of summer outing, $50; health, |
doctor, dentist and medicine, $25; in |
surance premiums, $5Q professional |
books, $40. gifts and entertainments, |
$25: and sinking fund of say 500. |
There is a total of 1857. or an expense I
of about s71.50 Il month.
"Of course it is fact that very few
of the teachers in the city can save
500 each year above all expenses, with
the exception of those living at home.
Then there are others who do not
spend nearly so much on the different
items enumerated in the list, but it is
safe to say that very few of the teach
ers of the city are able to save much on
their salaries.
THE school board has objected to
teachers working outside school hours.
yet in some cases ii is n necessity. In
the school teaching profession there are
so many demands that .tre not expected
of workers in other lines who have en-
ployment the whole year around.
''rhere seems to be only one feasible
plan to secure higher ~ages for the
teachers, and that is by Iengthening thi.
school term. This can he done if the
free text book system is abolished.
"As | understand it Superintendent
Clifford and nearly all the teachers are
n favor of this lengtheniag of the term
Some have suggested that we have
school during the entire month of june
md hold morning sessions during July.
hus giving the pupils and teachers
month and a half of recreation during