Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-02
WASHINGTON SCHOOLS.
Criticized ~ Representatives Foster Of
Vsrmont-Plea for an Incrense In
the Pay OF Teachers All Along
the 1,ine.

When the Item providing for the main
tenancc of the public schools of Washing
ton was read Representative Foster O
vermont secured the permission of th
chair to continue his remarks on this sub
Jcct beyond the nve.minutc limit.
II want TO plead the cause Of the boy
ana girls Of Washington" said Mr.. Eos
ter. Il want 10 plead the cause OF tn
pubic schools Ut the District of COlum
h'n. 1t goes without saying that the pub
tic school system Is tho very kcyston'
or our republican institutions. and yet
sThough this is true II is n fact tina
only In the last generation have we ha,
an cnicient school system. in former year.
tho instruction OF the child being lcf
entirely to the parents"
Al the present time. Mr.. Foster said
me various States of the Union vie will
one another in maintaining their publ,
scnooi systems up to the very highes
standard or excellence. and he though
mat the federal government. when it wa,
responsible for an cdura tional system
as 1t is In the case Of the District o.
columbia. should maintain 1t in the most
| ideal manner.
Tn" federal government in dealing witt
IN" school system Of the District Of co.
inlnbih should give tho states an object
lesson IN III" Inauguration ard manage
ment OF perfect school system.
/ Mr.. Foster then took up the question
| 81 thc salaries of school teachers The
profession of tho school teacher is a most
cN'ct'ne one. he said requiring careful
preparation industry. patience and con-
"nuous work from year to year.
NOT AN IDEAL SYSTEM HERE.
we as representatives Of the people,
have fallen far short of our duty in main
tanning an ideal school system in tho
District NJ Columbia" no said eve treat
the public schools and the public schoo,
teachers lust as in years gone by We
treated the poorly paid and ovcrworkcd
clerks in some of the departments of tho
government
Mr.. Foster thought that instead of dol
inC OUT money in tho way II does AT pros
ont for the payment nf specific salaries
10 sp"clflc positions the management Of
tho school system should he in the hands
~ the board Of education and the com :
rensat'on of teachers be arranged on a
merit basis. At present '1c said. tho prin-
cirals of tho high schools Of Washington
receive $3.50 and they might remain in
their present positions for forty yea rs
and not have another dollar added to
their annual compensation. In the States
he said. the law levios n tax that does not
become a part Of the reeular treasury
fund. but Is SGT aside for the purposes
of education alone.
In discussing model system or systems
that we're ut least vastly better than that
Of Washington Mr.. Foster mentioned that
IN Detroit the principal Of Il high school
receives sStnn.
Oth"r teachers arc paid s1NO the first
year. sTO the second year. $500 the third
YEAR $50 the fourth year saN0 the fifth
wear. 500 tho six'h year ~ I'm the seventh
year and 81 900 the tenth wear.
In Providence. r. T., tho PRINCIPAL OF a
high school receives a 5n. His assistant
Ia paid s1,G00 the first year 81 7nO tho Soc
ond vear and 81 SoN tn. third year Tho
same system IF service pror,otion also
obtains in tho regular ..raded schools in
that city.
NEW YORK HAS a BETTER
Mr. Fosse- said that people We're wont
to speak of New York as 'Tammany rid
dem and TO infer IRON that that educn-
tionai matters were not considered in the
hrst rank of municipal necessities. But
as matter OF fact he considered that
New York had IL very fine school system,
inmeasurably better than that Of the
District of Columbia. where the federal
government ran things
in New York the principals of schools
are paid sI,doh n year: first assistant prin-
cipals from 5000 to s.. % The first year:
from s2.loo to 81 j0i tn, second year, and
their salaries increase rroportonately un-
til at The sixth year they range from
s.. 200 to 5000 1872
'Why do we refuse to trust the board
of education III Washington to provide
similar methods for the payment of our
teachers to inaugurate the merit system
and to arrange that teachers willing 10
remain in the service, will.u,, to work hard
ana who are faithful and Efficient shall be
adequately paid
At present. Mr.. Foster said the system
OF payment all along the line was unjust.
Salaries were absolutely inadequate. He
called attention to the bill before he
House and read an extract 10 show hat
l,it2 teachers were paid an aggregate of
N.0as,"O, or an average Of 1874 year.
Then he turned back to the street sweep
ing department and showed that the whole
number 81 employees there was 49, and that
they received AZ averaco of 1851 each
Think OF it, said Mr. Foster. you
seem 10 think NOR" of cleaning the streets
than of educating the youth of the coun-
try"
He added in this connection that he did
not wish 10 pronounce a criticism in this
direction on any member Of the District
of Columbia subcommittee which had pre-
pared the bill. and particularly on Chair
man McCl"ary. FOR whom he had tho
fricndiicst feelings. and he declared thai
II was his belief that Chairman McClanrv
would agree with him that teachers Of
the District of Columbia wore Inadequate
~ paid.
AT this point Representative Baker of
Brooklyn jumped to his T ct and demanded
to know what good it did the teachers of
Washington to know thnt Chairman Nc
CIeary agreed with the gentleman from
Vermont that they should have more
money. what good does it do these poor
ly paid employees il the chairman of the
District subcommittee does not put his
ideas into effect. and provide more reason
bic compensation for them in the bill tina
he draws up, This personal agreement
with the gentleman from Vermont is of
no value To the teachers of this city,"
Mr. Foster repeated his statement that
ne d'd not wish to crticise Chairman
Mc'Icary or the other members of the
District subcommittee. and said that ho
had no time 10 consult with them ~
10 their views. He then read from re- !
port of tho board of education. showing /,
that increases in the pay Of teachers had
been vainly urged year after year and
mat congress. representing the federal