New-York tribune., 1907-08-01
NEED S3,OOO,OOO MORE.
FOR WOMEN TEACHERS
School Board Wants Big Increase an
annual appropriation.


of money estimated required in the operation
OF the public school system during the year 1908.
as result of resolution passed yesterday at a
meeting Of the executive committee Of the Board
OF Education. TIE additional millions in the esti
mate, Which Will be passed to the Board of Est
mate and Apportionment for approval, Will be re-
quired TO make the increases in the salary of
women teachers recommended by the special com
mittee Of the board, appointed to consider the sal
ary schedules for the coming year.
Even If the additional amount. considering the
purpose which il is be applied. should strike
the Board of Estimate only reasonable one
and should be voted by that body, the women
teachers will not be of the increases recon-
mended until the matter Eas been definitely cOnsd-
cred in "A regular meeting of the Board Of Educa-
ton.
Although the proposition amend the salary
schedules received eight out Of eleven affirmative
votes yesterday, It Is by means certain that they
vii! be made. Not few of the members present
expressed themselves opposed to certain changes
in the schedules. and Commissioner Jonas Of the
executive committee. said right out IN open meet
ins he didn't think the city could afford the In
crease in salaries the present time it is not at
all certain that the Board of Estimate will take
different view of the matter.
1t came near not being open meeting. as some
member members wise in the history of Board
OF Education meetings and knowing the significance
of increase of millions even If they be only
three, in the yearly running expenses of the de
parment. when such suggestion was dropped To
the members of the board made urgent requests
I"iliittee Is empowered 10 act lor tle i>oaIu ol
Education during July and August, when there are
no stated meetings of the full board in considera-
tion Of the Importance Of The subject attempts
were made to get quorum Of the fut board. but
they were unsuccessful Only twenty-five of the
needed twenty-five members appeared and there
fore the matter had to be taken up by the executive
committee.
The motion 10 instruct the finance committee Of
the board to tack additional 100000 for in
creases in salaries passed only after Il lot OF
discussion. and not until it had been made plain to
the members present that the increase In the school
budget did not necessarily commit the board TO ap
proving all the increases in salaries that had been
recommended by the special committee. Robert l."
Harrison. chairman of the committee, in explain
ing its report said that If all the suggestions made
10 the committee had been adopted it would have
meant increase of 5000 0o in the school budget
This amount. he said. he thought would unduly "X-
the Board Of Estimate, but II had been the
opinion of the committee that that board would
approve $3Q00.o0 increase. Mr. Harrison said the
committee had not decided TO make any increase
in the salaries Of any men teachers This. he
thought. might occasion some surprise, tor OF
course such Increases had been requested but me
committee had decided the crying need was for in
creases in women's salaries. Among other things
the committee recommends that the salary OK
women principals be increased 500 and also that
the compensation OF women assistant principals
be raised.
Although Commissioner Harrison careful to
point out that the increases in salaries were only
tentative, and could be approved only by the action
Of the Board OF Education in amending It's by-laws.
there was opposition in the air at once Commits
soners Jonas. Freifeld and Barry. VINO MEM
eral other members Of the board, thought II was
hasty action and wanted another special meeting,
buJ yesterdays a special meeting called
for the purpose and TO aid in getting the budget
$4,000 and then. # the Board of Esti-
mate granted IT, thrash out the proposed
a regular meeting the Board or Education
Commissioner Jonas said he did not want to aI-
pear as being opposed to increases In salaries but
he did not think the city could stand the addi-
tonal expense
Last year the public school in the city bud
get was s35ro.Go The normal yearly increase in
the budget is estimated by the Board OF Education
at about per cent nut should the Board OF Estl-
mate take favorable action the school budget Il
VIII mean that approximately $3o"D.O'o viii be
needed to run public school system during 1893.
About - so women teachers are included in tho
,ls.e rs. salaries com. under Schedules III
and " They the main part Of the teaching
force Of the public school system. II Is In these
schedules that the main changes are made In the
report OF the special committee.
If the new schedules approved. women pTin-
cipals and heads Of departments IN elementary
schools will get minimum SALARY OF $50 and a
maximum OF S2,G" only 800 less than that paid 70
male principals. the rate OF annual increase being
$50 Women teachers In charge Of schools Of IeSs
,taD Twelve but not less than classes will get
minimum 81 90 and a maximum Of $3.50, with
an annual increase % the axinum limit Of $50
Women teachers in elementary schools in ErifeS
from kindergarten to 8A. inclusive. Will her.
after receive. provided the special committees
recommendations accepted, a minimum OF $50
n year a maximum of $l,44o with an annual in
crease OF s4S. Teachers in the sB grade VIII start
at minimum of 1896 and. at rate OF annual in
So. VIII to tn" llGt
hundred dollars the minimum proposed for teach
ers in schools for the deaf, the first of which is to
be established in the old Stuyvesant High School
this autumn. and the annual increase Will DC 800
untn the maximum of $3.50 is reached
Miss Grace {. Strachan, one OF the district su- !
nornenderts and champion Of the women teachers
in their fight for the same amount OF comp, nsa- !
ton as men in like grades. one of the inter !
ested spectators at tn" meeting, AS was also Dr q,
James G Rvrnes, OF the board of examiners. An !
increase $3.50 in the salary of the members OF |
the board OF examiners. with the exception OF the
superintender of schools is recommended in the
report OF the special committee