Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-18

This table renders ehsy a general conn
parison of salaries paid in the classes of po-
sitions employing the greatest number of
teachers. Considering the six large cities
only, it will be seen at a glance that Boston
stands at the topsA alfelasses and Newark
second Except as to superintendent sal
ar S f while salaries are lowest
of principals of elementary schools in
Washington is much larger than in any of
the other cities. But IL salaries of princi-
pas sn asTs poaeon
Of Washington is improved little. if at all.
as this average. SO calculated. of 9S6 WASH
ington principals and teachers is 1858. while
for the next lowest, Detroit, the average OF
S02 principals and teachers is 5000.
I'm connection with second table OF
yearly salaries Of high school teachers, he
says:
a way as the averages, the differences be-
tween the salaries paid in the several cit
les. In Washington over 40 per cent of
the high. school teachers receive salaries
ranging from $500 to $500. while nearly 81
per cent receive $1,000 or less; In milwaukee,
524 per cent are below the $1,000 line In
Detroit 23.S per cent, in st. Louis II per
cent, but in Newark only 65 per cent. and
in Boston only 40 per cent. On the other
hand, Boston has 32.4 per cent receiving
over 81 600, Newark has 29.6 per cent, and
st. Louis 81 per cent. Other interesting
comparisons may be made.
elementary SCHOOLS.
I'm submitting table of salaries OF
principals of elementary schools, he says:
1T will be seen from this table that
in Washington 1873 per cent of the princi-
pals of elementary schools receive $1,000 or
less per year; in Detroit, 3O.4 per cent; In
st. Louis. Z per cent; while in Milwaukee
and Newark only one person out of the
whole number receives so low salary, and
in Boston the lowest salary paid any prin-
cipal was $2,700.
The fact that the two cities employing
a greater number of women than men in
the position of principals pay very much
lower average salaries cannot fail to at
TRACT attention In this connection.
1t Will be observed that the most Strik-
ing differences between Washington and the
other cities appears in the salaries of high
school teachers and those of principals of
elementary schools. the most remar liable
statement in this connection being that in
Milwaukee and Newark only one person
(principaD out of the whole number re-
ceives so low salary as $1,O3O, and in
Boston the lowest salary paid to any prin-
cipal was $4,000
Mr.. Chamberlain's Opinion.
j. A. Chamberlain, director of the manual
training school, is equally emphatic in his
appeal for better salaries for teachers. He
says in his annual report:
"In my report for 1923 gave particular
attention to the matter of salaries as one of
increasing Importance when the welfare of
these schools Is under consideration. l then
said:
There are heads of departments in this
school worth to it double their present SAL
aries who are liable to leave it any day to
accept elsewhere so per cent more than they
are now receiving, and yet reasonable and
regular increases, with the prospect of that
amount at the end of term of years, not
too long extended, would probably keep
them here indefinitely
In the loss of Mr.. Forest Grant and Mr..
John D. Minnick the most serious posi-
bility in mind two years ago has become
fact Here were two of the best men and
most efficient teachers eyer appointed to our
schools. The organizer of this school dis
charged his responsibility to it when he Sc
cured such men; they were contented in
Washington and in the service Of the
schools here; they would have remained for
less salary than offered them elsewhere;
but they were responsible to their families
for the future and they could not discredit
themselves by continuing to offer their abil-
tiles in a poor market. Unhappily, the
weakening of our schools In this manner
year after year is- not an imaginary thing.
Where will the responsibility for the ulti-
mate condition of the schools be placed?
'The arguments advanced in these re-
ports during the past eight or ten years in
favor of better salaries for the grade teach
ers of manual training gain In force as the
years pass. . s,-sss $780,. -
L TedHZe That Jtle OF salaries is
one which belongs to no one department of
our scheels.1and / do not dwell upon it as
of more, importance I'M this than in others
except in so far as this is not only a new
school, but new kind of school in many
respects, and as such it deserves well of us
until it has passed the experimental stage,
at least. If 1t is not given fair trial the
results will net be conclusive know of no
school question to which the salary question
should stand second"
Physical Culture.
This experience is vouched for by DIR. Re-
becca Stoneroad director of the physical
work, who says:
1.-THE salaries now received by the physi-
cal training teachers are not what they
should be when we consider the high order
of work demanded of them, consisting
greatly of the training of teachers, which
is true supervisory work. Some of these
teachers have spent hundreds of dollars to
secure the best training in this special line
of work. Three of them are graduates of
special schools of physical training, which
necessitated the expense of two years
study in the city of Boston. Others have
attended summer schools and are constant
in touch with the best thought and adj
vanced methods. Their teaching power is
openly acknowledged by both teachers and
officers"
In the high SCHOOLS.
Mr.. P. NJ Hughes, director of the high
schools is equally emphatic in pointing out
the low wage scale and equally urgent that
1t is but right and necessary that salaries
should be increased. He says along this
line:
Zone of the greatest difficulties in the
way of our securing the best teachers for
the high schools is the low salary which
must always be offered. Our salaries rare
ly have any attraction for good and expe-
rfenced teachers, who readily find better
positions elsewhere. In addition we are
constantly losing our strong teachers
through the fact that they can secure high
err salaries, with brighter prospects of ad-
yancement, in other places.
A Constant Menace.
again, while the probability of losing
our strongest and most helpful teachers is
constantly menacing US, the most serious
and disgraceful part is that many of the
salaries paid are utterly inadequate for
the proper maintenance of our teachers in
health and comfort. and the affording OF
opportunity for them to make any provi-
sion against the helplessness of old age
No matter how excellent the teacher may
he il seems to be assured that money
enough to provide the mere necessaries of
f,.t %1,, On