New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-20
TEACHERS UP IN ARMS.
Principals assistants Object to Be
inc Transferred.

An attempt by the board of superintendents of
the Department of Education to save $500 900
by replacing with substitutes the regular teachers
employed additional teachers has caused
much excitement in educational circles. Orig
inally there were 80 of these additional teach
ers-otherwise known clerical assistants to pr1r-
cipals-but in the last two and half years 100 Of
them have been returned to the classrooms and
substitute teachers put in their places. The regular
teachers averaged in cost to the city $1,000 year
each while the substitutes averaged $500. In this
manner a saving of about $4,000 a year has been
effected. There are still $50 regular teachers in
clerical positions whose salaries amount to 100000
These $50 additional teachers include some of the
oldest and most influential teachers IN the city In
their capacity assistants ii is declared, they
have assumed authority which does not belong to
their rank. The result is they using every
effort to prevent the board of superintendent from
returning them to the classrooms. The return
would not lower either their actual official stand
ing or their salaries.
In February subcommittee of the board Of gu
perntendents reported as follows:
The committee on nomination transfer and as
signment begs leave to report that in view of the
necessity for economy in all branches OF the de-
FOR more economical clerical service in the
schools IL has given consideTation to various plans
Of securing the return CT regular teachers, serving
as additional teachers, to classroom work without
disturbing or interfering unnecessarily with the
conditions existing in the schools. The present
seems TO be most opportune time for action in this
matter for the reason that the assignment of these
regular teachers to class work will result in the
ming or many vacancies OeceSSlIaunS
payment OF additional salaries during the summer
vacation months.
The committee is Of the opinion that in all
schools where conditions make it practicable the
additional teachers, if capable of doing class work.
should be reaSsigned to classroom work from March
j. If vacancies exist in the schools and that where
no vacancies exist, the additional teachers should
be reassigned TO classes soon as vacancies occur
In pursuance of this plan, your committee oegS
to present the following resolution. intended to Sc
cure the assignment of certain teachers reported
by the district superintendents to be capable of
doing class work to vacancies now existing in the
schools in which they employed:
Resolved, That the following named regular
teachers be, and they hereby are, reassigned from
the position of additional teacher TO that of
teacher from March ], 1906
The remaining $50 clerks in their fight have the
support OF many members of the Board of Educa-
ton A few days ago Jacob w. Mack. formerly
the chairman of the committee elementary
schools, sent an open letter to Frank d. Wilsey,
his successor. The latter is IN favor of the stand
taken by the principals of the schools, who, at
public hearing, argued well for the retention OF
their experienced clerks that the committee on
elementary schools determined support them.
Lawsuits are expected soon to follow the latest
action or the board of superintendent, many
OF the teachers who clerks prior to the adop-
ton of the present charter believe that the super
tntendents have no legal right to take them from
their old places and put them into ones.