New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-20
TEACHERS UP IN ARMS
Principals assistants Object to Be-
ing 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 as additional teachers has caused
much excitement in educational circles. Orig
inally there were 30 of these additional teach
ers-otherwise known clerical assistants to prin-
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 saving of about $4,000 year has been
effected. There still 80 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
thetr capacity assistants, il Is declared, they
have assumed authority which does not belong to
their rank The result is they are 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 their salaries.
In February a subcommittee of the board Of gu
perintendents 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 rt economica Clerical serWics in the
schools. it has given consideration various plans
of securing the return OF regular teachers, serving
as additional teachers, to classroom work without
condtong sng p the aeSos The "i PRESENT
seems to be most opportune time action in this
regular teachers to class work viii result in the
filing Of many vacancies without necessitatng the
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
vacancies exist in the schools. and that where
no vacancies exist, the additional teachers should
be reassiEned TO classes vacancies occur.
In pursuance of this plan, your committee oess
to present the following resolution, intended to Sc
cure the assignment Of certain teachers reported
by the district superintendent to be capable of
doing class work to vacancies now existing in the
schools IN which they are employed:
Resolved, That the following named regular
teachers be, and they hereby are reassigned from
the position of additional teacher to that of class
teacher from March l, 1896.
The remaining $50 clerks in their fight have the
support OF many members OF the Board Of Educa-
ton few days ago Jacob W. Mack. formerly
the chairman of the committee elementary
schools sent an open letter to Frank ID. Wilsey,
his The latter is IN favor of the stand
taken by the principals of the schools, who, at
public hearing, argued so well for the retention OF
their experienced clerks that the committee on
elementary schools determined to support them.
Lawsuits are expected to follow the latest
Hction OF the board of superintendents, many
OF the teachers who were clerks prior the adop-
ton OF the present charter believe that the super
fntendents have no legal right to take them from
their old places and put them into new ones.