The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-28
FRICTION AMONG
SCHOOL TEACHERS
Difference Of Opinion as to the
Method OF Procedure in Secur-
ing Salary Increase.
sMITHEY WAS NOT INVITED
High School Member Of Com
mittec Did Not Receive
Notice OF Meeting.

! THAT there is friction between tbs
| teachers OF the district,schools OF Rich
| mond and those Of the High School, OF
! rather between some of each class. is
| a fact conceded by representatives OF
| DO til organizations. 1t may further be
| asserted that this friction is the out
| growth of variant views as to the more
polite method of procedure in the eff
! fort to secure Increased salaries for
| teachers OF both clasAes
| To be even more specific, 1t may be
| stated that the district school teachers
| or certain of them who are most
| earnest and vigorous in pressing the
| demand for Increased salaries. wished
| to fix the salaries of all teachers at
n figure which they deem fair and
which they, are urging the Board of
School Trustees and the Finance Com
mittee of the Council to adopt
The matter OF urging upon the author
tiles tho Imperative necessity of better
remuneration OF the teachers was assigned
to a committee of the Teachers Corpora
| tive Association. as the offensive and de-
fensive alliance OF the pedagogues is
called on that committee is one High
School teacher. Mr.. William r. Smithey.
the remainder OF the members being dis
trict school teachers. and Mr.. Jesse IL.
Btnford. a district school principal, IS
chairman. This committee undertook to
say what should be the minimum pay of a
High School teacher. and further deter
mined to fix the figure at SIS for a wc-
man teacher in the High School.
Mr.. Smlthey and the other High School
teachers whom he represented deemed il
better policy not TO fix or suggest any
specific sum. but merely to present their
appeal and argument to the board an!
the committee. and to leave to them the
details. as tho sum available for increase
OF salaries might Justify
The district school teachers on the COM
mittec persisted in tfVir course. where
upon Mr. Sinitfly and the high school
teachers whom ne represented announced
that the majority OF the committee. or
the district teachers. might do as they
though best in the matter. but that the
--.gh School teachers believed they could
fight better outside the organization. and
would look after their own interests in
their own ray.
After this little breach IN the ranks.
a meeting Of the Teachers Cooperative
Association committee was called, but
Mr. Smithy failed to receive notice of the
meeting Later he met Mr. Binford
chairman Of the committee. and the lai-
ter frankly told Nj Smi.hey that he was
not notified and that his presence at the
meeting was not desired. or words 70 that
effect. This situation quickly became
known 10 the High School teachers. and
It was stated yesterday by one of them
that they resented the action OF the
district teachers.
Mr. Smithey. in conversation with
Times Dispatch representative yesterday.
corroborated this statement of the case
in all its essential details. Mr.. Binford.
when sought for a statement was reported
absent from the city. having gone into
the county to remain until Monday.
Some OF the district teachers now APP
pear TO lave concluded that the High
School teachers are looking out for them
selves. and that the district teachers must
do likewise, and they have since done so
with vlgor and energy.
1t is expected that the High School
teachers will ask hearing some eve
ming this week at the hands of the Coun-
ell Finance Committee. at which time
they will present their cause. as the dis
trict teachers did theirs last week. No
meeting has yet been called. but It ls
expected that one will be arranged for
the latter portion of the week