The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-05-28
SEE SIGNS OF PEACE
Protesting Teachers to Meet the
Teachers Committee in Re-
gard to Salaries
MANY SEEK HIGHER WAGES
But Five Teachers Have Announced
Their Intention to Retire But
Twelve Demand Readjust-
ment of Their Salaries

There are signs Of peace in the con-
flict between the grade teachers of the
city schools and the School Board and
arrangements are now being made to
hold a meeting Of the committee and
the teachers at which time the question
Of salaries for the coming year will be
discussed. The teachers are not min
cling matters and it is certain that if the
Board of Education does not make con-
cessions in the way of increased sala
Ties, many Of the teachers will decline
to sign contracts. Next Monday is the
last day set for the signing Of contracts
but all of the teachers have informed
the superintendent as to their feelings
in the matter and they seem to be won
derfully united. 1t is admitted that
number of the teachers are acting in
unison, but it is stated that no com
bination has been formed for whole
sale desertion. A majority Of the grade
teachers have signed contracts for the
coming year at the salary fixed by the
committee in its recent report to the
Board. Five of the teachers have no
titled the secretary Of the Board that
they will not sign contracts, half a
dozen have stated that they resigned
several weeks ago and twelve have re-
Trained from signing a contract until
after they have held a meeting with
the teachers committee and made an eff
fort to show that they are deserving Of
more salaries. The seventeen belliger-
ents declare that they cannot remain in
Kenosha without readjustment Of the
salary proposition and they claim that
they will not return with the two dol
lar raise that has been granted by the
teachers committee. It is said that
FIVE of the teachers have already been
elected to teach in Chicago and that
they will not consider any proposition
to sign Kenosha contracts for another
year. Many of the teachers who have
signed have signed the contract
with the distinct understanding that
they will break the contract if they find
q more favorable offer for their services
between now and the opening Of the reg
ular school year. The board will meet
on the evening of June and at that
time it is expected that the committee
on teachers will have a supplementary
report to lay before the board which
viii recommend the increase in some of
the salaries. 1t is admitted however
that the Board is not favorable to all
the increases demanded and some of the
teachers may be notified that they have
been dropped from the roll.
While there are plenty of teachers to
be secured, the members Of the Board
seem to desire to treat with the teachers
and meet them on a proper basis and
if possible retain many Of the teachers
who gave satisfaction in the schools last
year. Some of the teachers who have
declined to sign contracts have been
working in the Kenosha schools for
years and they are very popular with
the patrons of the schools. The matter
has been carried to the school patrons
and there is little doubt but that the
teachers could secure monster petition
asking that their request for an in
crease in wages be granted by the
Board
AS Monday is the last day for the
signing of contracts it is expected that
the Board will take immediate steps to
fill all places vacant after that time as
the members Of the committee feel that
it will be a difficult matter to get the
best grade Of teachers if the matter
is allowed to drag along until next fall.