Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-31
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Talked of Increasing Teachers
 Salaries Last Night.

evening Informed the board Of edll- cation that the city finances were noU in q condition to warrant any increase of salaries, the board of education took measures to jump salaries on September 1909. This action was taken despite the wishes of the mayor. He thought it was begging the ques- ton but Commissioner MOnagan and Chapman who had the matter of rules under discussion thought otherwise and it went.
 Commissioners Monagan and Chap man provided new rule by which teachers beginning service in Septem- Der 1909 shall reach the maximum fg- ure of salary year earlier than at present and will have to wait only one year for the first increase. This will effect about twelve teachers. This step, taken in this way, the con- missioners named along with Com missioner Mcdonald, did not consider substantially raise in salary. The cred it very injudicious at present. Moreover he asked, what was the idea ill doing something now that will not go into effect for year and q half hence. He thought it about time to handle the dilemma when the dilemma presented itself. The mayor thought it advisable to investigate the salary question in other cities and he was informed that in q general way Waterbury pays as high as some, and higher than other places except Hart ford high school. There it seems 10 be the idea to give to the high school q great deal of what should go to the grades. ~
 Commissioner Moragan said the new rules fixing salaries would come under fixed charges and the board of finance could not interfere then. The mayor thought this an injustice to other departments of the local government. He did not see the pro- prety of forcing rule now when there is year and a half to wait. A motion was then put to approve of the new rule, and this brought out other proposed changes.
 It is proposed to make the fall term sixteen weeks, the summer term four teen weeks and the spring tern ten weeks. Also the new rule proposed to raise the salaries of the men teach CTS in the high school to level $1 300 those who are now paid S1 POO, and to advance the women teachers sal aries to $1,200 those who are paid at present S95O This would make an increase of 1,400 year for the high school.
 The motion was carried, the rules to go into effect on September 1909. Commissioner Chapman moved to eliminate the teaching of Latin and Greek and teach German or Spanish. The first he said are dead languages and this century is too much alive to take up dead languages. This came mp on n motion to put certain num- Der of copies of An Introduction to Caeser" in the high school. Poor Caeser, whose dust would stop a chink in a mud wall came near being fired out the window. But Commis- sioners Monagan and Kelley stood up for him and he was admitted after some discussion, to the extent of 1J0 copies.
 Commissioner Monagan introduced a book called 'Personal "Reminiscences of Lieutenant George Quinn,' relat- ing to the civil war. He said he had been requested to have number bought for the school library. The matter was referred to the coinmit- tee on text books.
 Commissioner Castle, chairman of the committee on school houses then made the following report:
 The wall in the rear of the Lincoln school needs immediate attention and part of it fell Sunday night. Some commissioners thought it the fault of the excavation done by the Lilley, Swift and company and that that company ought to be held responsible, and the board ought not to begin work until after seeing who is to blame. Mayor ThOms said 1t would be advisable to get all the facts. He thought the city attorney did not have all the facts when the matter was last referred to him for opinion. He said it would be better to % ahead and rebuild the wall and ascertain If the meat concern was at all Tespon- sible and if so, send them q copy of the bill of costs when completed.
 The wall is about 100 feet long and it fell first where the excavation on the Lilley. Swift & Cos property is deepest. It was finally decided to let the matter in the hIuds of the committee on school houses to build at cost of not more than S35O. If it will cost more, estimates to be ob- tained.
 A number of recom"nendations relative to repairs were approved and then came the inter minable question of electric fire gCngs on each floor of the thirteen schools not fitted with them. There are such gongs in use now and they are test ed four times a day and so far have been found satisfactory. But Com missioner Chapman stood out for the pull bell system. stating that electricity always gives out just when it is most needed. Inspector Of School Houses Slavin. at the re- quest of the meeting. tired the cleo tric gong in the High school, and it was found all right ,hs Tecom- mendation for electric gOngs was carried.
 IL was also recommended to in- stall stand pipes and a line of hose in each of the floors of III t-Ie school buildings. and $500 was allowed for wicker couches for use in the emer- geney room in each of t''e schools.
 On the recommendation Uf Super