The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-27
SHOW THEY ARE SAILING CLOSE
TO THE WIND"
Supply Statistics of Their Expenses as
Basis for Their Agitation for an In
crease in Their Salaries-What Few
Reports Selected at Random, Indicate.
TEACHERS EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
$3.50 to $500

What does it cost Minneapolis school
teachers to lives
In order to give definite basis for
their agitation looking to increased sal
aries, they are making full reports OF
their personal expenses:
The showing is varied but interest,
ing. The teachers are fully convinced
that they cannot live as they are ex-
pected to do and make any adequate
provision for the future or keep abreast
of their profession.
Reports on the cost Of living are be-
ginning to come in to the public AFFAIRS
committee of the Teachers club, and
set Of fifteen taken at random has been
examined. Out Of the fifteen the hxXaang
week for the school year, or approx
mately $3.50 a year; and ten spent
higher sum, or 5000 year. This is only
for the school year of 40 weeks, vaca-
ton expenses being reported separate
The greatest uniformity was found IN
the item of clothing, the maximum re-
ported by only one person being $S2o'
and the minimum, reached by one, pc,
ing $3.50; all of the rest spent $500
each. Laundry averaged about $50 a
year, altho four spent $40 and one as
low as SIS. The maximum for carfare
was $50 and seven spent this amounL,
while the others ranged from that to
500, the minimum.
This set of reports was prepared be-
! fore the printed schedules were sent out
and did not cover all expenses and dit
| fered somewhat in classification. In
most of them books, magazines and en-
tertainments were Jumped in one item
that was quite uninformly $25; where
this was divided, in a majority of cases
$15 was spent for entertainment, and
$40 for books and magazines, but IN
some cases the proportion was reversed
The range OF necessary travelng ex
penses was from $15 to $50, the average
being about $50. Vacation expenses was
$75 as maximum and 500. as
minimum. The greatest variation was
found in the item of church and charl
ties, the range being from $40 to $75
the average being $50. Club dues S.
were included in all the reports and IL
some instances library fees and rev
other small items.
The estimates, except in a single. in
stance, did not include insurance ant
the teacher who paid $500 for lnsur
ance had a deficit of more than tina
amount. The amount Of the salarie
received were not stated in most cases
but only two reported a deficit. Among
other necessary expenses not estimated
were doctor g and dentist s bills omit
ted from all. :, Many Of the items men
toned above, church, amusements
travel and even vacation expenses wer
not included in all reports, but witt
these exclusions the average expendi
ture called for was 1857, pretty. close t.
the maximum of the grade teachers an
considerably above the average Of tn
entire teaching corps. The inclusion b.
all Of the items considered necessar.
would bring the. average very close t
$500, the grade teachers maximum
without allowing anything for saving o
for insurance. -
, Taking these first schedules as fai
indication Of the whole, it certainl
looks as if the teachers of the city ar
"sailing pretty close to the wind.''