The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-03-23

as teacher, who has resided in the
city for couple of7yeJrs, with the family
of H. A. Pattersons Miss Alma Coughlan,
second grade at the Union, daughter of
I. X. COughlan, graduate of the normal
school, and has taught two years, in
Gliding one at Sa yton; Miss Florence
EgglestOn, A sixth grade at the Pleas
ant Grove, home at Binghamton, n. Y,
graduate of the Alankato normal, has
taught two years at New Ulm, re-
lated to Mrs. H.! l. Parry; Miss Lillian
Murphy, third grade at the Pleasant
Grove, daughter of John Murphy, gradn-
ate of the normal school, has taught at
Wells for two years; Miss Louise Ole
son, West MSnkato primary, daughter
of c.. l.. Oles,on, graduate of the high
and normal schools, and graduates this
year from the advanced kindergarten
course at the normal. All are well rec-
commended, although two or three years
experience is the extent that any of
them have had in teaching.
Miss Irving was transferred from the
primary to the first and second grades
OF the WesH MankatO school at her own
| request Miss Pinney was transferred
from the first grade to the primary at
the Pleasant Grove upon the recon-
mendatiOnl of the superintendent. Miss
| Thomas was transferred from the Dri-
mary at the Franklin to the LIST grade
| at the Pleasant Grove upon the recon-
mendatiom of the superintendent.
A spirited contest arose over the
question: of salaries. 1t appears that
/ the board entered into sort of under
standing year ago to change the max
imum limit for the grade teachers from
$50 a month to $50, and from $50 to
S65 for building principals, and to raise
the minimum limit from $35 to $40 a
month. This was not placed upon the
records for some reason, and while this
| understanding was reiterated last night,
again it was not placed upon the rec
ords, leaving the old figures standing Of
ficihlly.
The contest arose when the question
off fixing the salary of the first grade
teacher was taken up. This teacher
happened to be the daughter of Mr..
Fletcher. Mrs. Smith moved that the
salary be raised from $3.50 to $50 al
| the salary where it was, but his mo-
| ton had no second. He said that thesI
! board owed it to the taxpayers to be
sareful with the school funds. The
funds are badly overdrawn, and this
year it will be necessary to add three
mills to the school tax, while the city
will have to add five or six mills, on
| account of the paving expense. This
! would make a tax levy of four per
cent. The teachers are receiving good
salaries, and most of them are liv-
| ing at their homes. s
Mrs. Smith replied that living ex-
penses are higher than ever, before, and
! the teachers work six hard Hours a day.
Some of the teachers have heavy filan-
,ial burdens. She know of one old
| teacher who had educated her sister out
| Of her salary, and had but So left af-
ter many years of work.
| Mr. Fletcher retorted that SOME OF
tie teachers have been able to save up
quite nice little sum.
Mrs. Smith observed that they must
have been very economical.
Mr. Currier said that both of the
speakers were right. but that under the
present circumstances, and the fnan-
cial condition Of the school district, he
felt that Mr.. Flether's position was cor
rect He had given the matter careful
thought and was willing to go on record
before the people that way. This would
apply only to this one year,
Mr.. Coughlan said that the board had
decided to raise the limit to $55 year
ago, and the teachers expect it.
| DIR. Beach thought it not fair to stop
now when the salaries of some of the
teachers were raised last year. Why pay
some more than others? A salary of
$55 month for nine months means $40
a month for the whole year, which is
teacher.
President Hughes said that after rails
ing the salary of the superintendent he
would regret to see the board take the
stand that the district is bankrupt. The
| teachers do hard work as well as the
superintendent
Mr.. Fletcher said that while there are
no more pupils attending the public
schools than there were five years ago,
the salaries paid to the teachers are $4,
600 more, and it is now proposed to add
another $1,000 this year.
Mr.. Currier said that the district is
now paying twenty per cent greater
salaries than five years ago, with less
pupils in the schools. 1t is always easy
to raise salaries. but hard to cut them
down.
Judge ComstoclS said that educational
magazines show that living is from 80
to 40 per cent higher than before, and
if our pay roll is only 20 per cent high
er, it still falls below proportionate in.
crease. He believed in good faith, and
there had been an implied understand
ing between the board and the teachers.
1t was not question of ways and
means entirely The present shortage
was brought about by reduction OF the