The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-07
BALM FOR THEM.
City Teachers Get Kind Words,
But No More Pay.
Board of Education Deals Out
Compliments.
MEMBERS SURPRISED.
Superintendent Whittemore Vol
unfairly Gives Up $500.
Asks to Have Salary Reduced on
His Own Notion.
LEMBERS SURPRISED.

There viii be no increase in the sal
aries of the teachers in the elementary
schools of the city during the coming
year. This was decided by an unan-
lmous vote of the ten members of the
board of education who attended the an
nuai meeting OF that body which was
held last night. This vote was made
without discussion or debate on a re-
port of the committee on teachers which
was submitted by its chairman, Colonel
John D. Norton.
But it was only because of the hnan-
cial conditions under which the board
is laboring that the increases in the
salaries which the teachers have re-
quested were denied. Although there
was no discussion on the subject it is
safe to say that the vote denying the
increases was a reluctant one and that
there is not a member of the board but
would have voted most willingly
to grant the increases asked if there
were sufficient funds available to pay
them. Colonel Norton's committee re-
ported that because of the increased
cost of living and the character of the
services required, a change in the sal
airy schedule making the minimum sal
the maximum salary SIS per. month in
stead of $50 would be most equitable and
deserved but that the amount of money
available under the present methods of
levy actually precluded any possibility
of granting the increases, although the
members of the committee were unan-
imous that such Increases should be
given
There is a chance. however, that the
teachers in the grammar schools will
set these Increases in salaries before an
other year has rolled away. Colonel
Nortons committee suggested that an
effort be made by the board of educa-
ton, cooperating with the boards of ed
ucation of other cities Of the first class,
to secure action by the next legislature
for an increase in the tax levy for sal
aries and general school expenses.
Under the existing statutes the tax
levy for salaries and the maintenance
of the schools in cities of the first class
IS limited by law to y mills on the dol
lar of taxable property, whereas in
school districts having a population of
less than 500 levy of 20 mills is au-
thorized and in districts having a pop
ulation of over 500 a levy of 25 mills may
be made. and in, cities of the second
class 20 mills on the dollar may be levied
for general purposes.
And before last. nights meeting was
adjourned this Suggestion of the COM
mittee- was acted upon and President
Mallory was authorized to appoint a
special committee to confer with the
boards of education of cities of the first
class with a view of concerning their
efforts to have the next legislature pass
a law providing for an increase in the
tax levy for general school purposes so
that sufficient sum can be realized
each year for the proper maintenance
of the schools, which will include the
adequate remuneration of teachers.
The report of the teachers commit ]
tee. presented by Colonel Norton, and
which was unanimously adopted. al
though with apparent regret is as fol-
lows:
following report regarding an increase /
in the salaries of teachers in the ele-
mentary SCHOOLS.
At the regular meeting of the board |
of education on March 5, 1906 petition |
was presented by the teachers in the /
elementary schools setting forth the in |
adequacy of present salaries in consid- |
Grafton of the increased cost of living |
and the character of the service required |
and asking for a change in the salary |
schedule making the minimum salary |
$45 per month instead of $40 and the
maximum salary SIS per month instead |
of $50 After a full discussion. in which |
a unanimous opinion was expressed in /
favor of an increase in salaries, the mat /
ter was referred to the teachers COM
June meeting, when it was supposed
the resources of the board for the year
1906-1907 could be ascertained. The as
sessed valuation of the city of Topeka /
was not officially announced 1rsiI the
la tier part of July and hence the com
mittee has been UGable to report until
the present time.
After a careful investigation with the
aid of a subcommittee. the committee
finds that there is a tendency in many
cities to increase the wages paid to
due in part to q recognized adj
vance in the cost of living and in part
to an effort to improve the efficiency of
the schools.
During the past year the total number
Of teachers employed in the elementary
schools of Topeka was 143 and the sal
aries pafd were as follows: