New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-19
ABSENCES OF TEACHERS.
Need of Reform ia Regulating Them
A Tasteful System.


ent methods Of regulating teachers ABSENCES
and a report It is said, will soon be turned IN
20 the Board OF Education. Under the system
now in vogue, q teacher has the privilege Oh
ebsenttng himself from his duties one hundred
school days before charges of neglect OF duty
can be preferred against him. During this pc
Rod while he loses his pay for the days in which
school IS in session. he has the right TO coilect
for all Saturdays and Sundays and other Gays
when school is not in session. This is the re-
suit OF the custom OF paying teachers Tor 900
DAYS IN each year. instead of for the l9o actuai
school days. For each day OF absence Itoi"
school the teacher now loses 1868 or ms pay
instead OF LEO
Through the To-day rule, teacher can ue
absent for more than six months ana sun re-
cetve part OF his pay II these six months IAN
within the months when school is N session. he
receives at least a generous 81 of his ordinary
pay If he drops his work IN March, APRIL
Nav or June he can get regular pay for all
the summer holidays. If teacher is appointed
IN these months, by working single day ne
can draw regular wages for Sundays. SatuF-
DAYS and holidays during the following seven
or eight months, If he determines to go INTO
some other business.
.oTbe 1O0-dav rule was determined upon by
the Board OF Education TO give the SICK tee'cii-
ers proper chance" said associate city
proper use but to the abuse, Of the rule II a
teacher absents himself, lie should be docked
for all the days that he is away pelleVe
that teacher is guilty Of neglect OF ouly "heh
he remains out for week without applying ioi
g leave Of absence, without pay. but we nave
10 give him six months OF more lee"ay' we
have no means of learning whether or not
teacher is sick now when he absents himself
and many take advantage of our lenielc9
for
.tead of for $780, which is the actual number OF
school days, because they prefer our present
plan" said another superintendent. we
formerly paid the teachers of Brooklyn Tor
actual service in ten monthly instruments Tor
the ten school months; but the teachers fouho
that during the summer holidays they spent So
much that they didn't have what they needed to
fl themselves out in the fall SO we deter
mined 10 pay them In twelve monthly install
ments and have found it more satisfactory for
the teachers. The city, however, no doubt loses
considerable money through the consequent rule
Of paying a teacher for $50 days. instead Of for
1870 because we now deduct only 1850 for
days absence. instead of 1880"
The teachers OF the city are now considering
the general question of deductions for absence.
The money SO deducted about $4,000 annual
ly) is given by law into the teachers pension
fund The fund IS also maintained by the al
per cent Of the excise tax. 1t is the opinion held
by an active and increasing number of teachers
that instead of adding to the fund by deduc-
tions for absence the entire teaching force
should turn into the pension fund per cent OF
its regular pay annually. This would amount
20 not less than 100000 annually, $1,000
more than the amount now raised through the
deductions.
Il is The desire of the teachers now to prove
that the Board OF Superintendent has no power
to make rules regulating absence, and that such
authority is vested solely in the Board of Edu-
cation They also maintain that the charter
does not provide for the deductions for absence,
except as a means Of increasing the pension
fund.
The charter gives the Board of Education the
sole right 10 adopt rules regulating excuse of
absence with pay, and the power OF the board
of superintendents is simply administrative, in
that the excuses granted by the local boards
must be either approved or disapproved as
whole, and only be disapproved if contrary
10 the bylaws OF the Board Of Education. The
superintendents consequently act as checR
upon the local boards.
Section 092 of the charter which confers
upon che Board Of Education the right to de-
Duct fer absence. reads: The Board Of Educa-
ton shall, by amending its bylaws relating to
the excuse of absence of teachers with pay so
provide that the aggregate of the several sums
shall be fully adequate to meet the demands
made upon the teachers pension fund"
II is a question whether the intention Of the
charter is 70 give the Board of Education the
right TO deduct from teachers for absence simply
as a OF maintaining the retirement fund.
No section Of the charter gives the board of
superintendents the right TO adopt rules for the
excuse Of absence. The only other section rela-
tive 10 the absence Of teachers is LOSS which
states: The local school boards shall have
power to excuse absences of teachers within
their respective districts, subject to the approval
OF the board OF superintendents in cases where
teachers are excused with pay and IN accordance
with the bylaws OF the Board Of Educa ton pre-
scribing rules TO govern all such cases."
The local boards therefore have the power to
excuse teachers without pay without reference
70 the Board of Education or the board Of SUI
perintendents- In where teachers apply
for excuse Of absence with pay. they have the
right TO grant the excuse. subject to the ap-
prevail Of the board OF superintendents and in
accordance with the bylaws Of the Board of
Education.
The superintendents are convinced that the
whole system of handling absences not only
wastes large sums OF the city's money but is
derogatory 10 the discipline and efficiency of
the teaching force. They anxious that full
powers over the whole system be given into the
hands Of a central body, with knowledge and
power to act for the best interests OF the schools
They have reported on this matter before the
Board Of Education. showing the unsatisfac Glory
ard wasteful methods OF the present system and
proposing changes. In order that satisfactory
arrangements can be made, IL VIII probably be
necessary TO request the legislature to make a
number Of changes IN the provisions OF the
charter. Even the excuse of absence without
pay is proving highly unsatisfactory
1T Is getting 50 now" said an associate SUI
perintendent few days go, that teacher
get excuse OF absence without pay for
any length Of time. Miss McEveIy OF Man