New-York tribune., 1907-03-03
TEACHERS AND SALARIES.
Better Pay Might Bring About Higher
Standard of Efficiency.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: II one could stand unmoved among twel'e
thousand teachers in this city. all feeling more
or less grievOusly the economic pressure Oh Ihe
times he might observe with cynical interest,"
the turbulent strife between the conservative roy
resentatives OF the sacred taxpayer on the one
hand. and the women teachers. including aAso Oh
late the men teachers, on the other nano Inc
Board Of Education has already disposed OF the
claims Of the women and may show a similar uii-
willing disposition toward the men. hecehIy ule
women. with striking persistency, have appeared
at Albany under the protection OF the AcO1iIt"
BILL which provides that the position snan carry
its salary" tactical paraphrase OF the tOE'"eE
motto. equal pay for equal work
A movement started by the High SchOol Ieach-
ers' Association looking toward an advancement
Of salaries all along the line, but not implying
equal pay for men and women, is opposed Vlsor-
ously by many women In the association AT Ihe
same time a considerable number or men teaCheIS
in both elementary and high schools are opposed
10 the idea OF equal pay. Some OF them meet the
situation by proclaming the pretensions OF the
women absurd" while claiming an increase tor
themselves because they need the money ana DC
cause they have families 20 support Inc "'',e
argumentative ones call into the service the al
legged law of supply and demand as JuS'!-
hcation for the present discrimination In the sal
ary schedule against women teachers.
The determination of the women teachers MAKES
them formidable opponents, even without the
voters power but there is evidence that they are
scattering their efforts. Women in the profession
OF teaching have proved beyond question that they
are as efficient The law OF supply anu
demand and the family argument are polIl,ItssSls
and irrelevant beside, the main thesis which
might be formulated in these words; women t Ss
human beings and workers deserve pay Tot @ tIeit
services on the basis of the value ana importance
OF their work and the efficiency nanliesteG IN IN
doing the work. A thesis emb0dying tnls ioSa
ought TO appeal 10 every lover OF justice put u -
well TO note the fact that the principle inyoIved
Is not in accordance with present day social pro-
tage OF being fundamental whereas the snort
handed arguments that for the most part are IN N
use In the current salary discussion are oasSSu
upon no principle whatever. II the women teacn-
ers were disposed 10 cease arguing tTVlai Po'Ss rs
with their opponents and make their ngnt on
some fundamental principle, their cause utlIateiS
would prove invncible. Moreover, they might
meet thus indirectly the charge OF narroNhsss An!
against them, and. in fact against the teachlhs
profession IN general IN the schools ,,
There Is more involved in this struggle Tor nlgher
salaries than persuading a reluctaht pup2unC % %
SaIaries will hardly make better teachers or IN
duce better minds 20 so into teaching BUY t tne
granting OF decent remuneration Will FeHeNe tile
pubo OF one OF It's obligations. u may then insist
better and broader minded citizens But now 70
Induce highly endowed persons TO 90 thef part
In training citizens Of the future Is pronleIa
With. which higher salaries or the taNpayihS pup
lie as taxpayers. have little TO do. II seems TO
the wTItcr that the initial movement can o. slNsn
hest by the teachers themselves. they need 70 90
more independent thinking and not so mucn learn.
Ing and little else. What a splendid thing ~ would
be for the country IL some Of the enthusiasm Tor
higher salaries for teachers could be diverted INTO
n channel of thought a. At would lead 70 the Ieal
and complete solution OF the problem OF ule pus'-
ness Of the school In secietyi ,,,-,-,vrr
The De witt Clinton High School. New York.
Feb. Is. 1901