The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-24
WHY TEACHERS OBJECT
To THE NEW CONTRACTS

One OF the teachers, representing
the sentiment of the gathering of
teachers held in the Congregational
church last Friday. prepared the fol-
lowing as expressive of the views OF
those who are opposed to signing the
contract offered teachers by the OS-
den Board OF Education:
Teachers Standpoint
The dissatisfaction among the Og
den City School Teachers has not
been fully explained yet The rumor
OF a strike" is entirely erroneous, AS
the teachers have not thought OF such
an idea. although a large number of
them have signifed their intention Of
not signing the contract The reason
Is not altogether on account Of the ma
ture of the contract. The amount Of
salary offered to cover the expenses
which would be incurred If the con-
tracts were signed. is, In large ma
jority of cases. entirely inadequate
The contract requires the teachers
10 attend summer school or take an
extension course; the first meaning six
weeks time al an expense of notices.
than $1,000, and The second, two
hours twice week during the win
ter at an expense OF not less than SIS
The teachers are willing to improve
themselves, knowing that their pupils
are the ones who really receive the
benefit of It, but they cannot afford 10
Go Il on the money offered them Take
the case Of a teacher who has been
offered S525 for the year. (This Is an
average salary and there are n large
aumber who have peen offered less
amounD. Taldng out the SIS for sum
meI school, leaves S45C, or $3.50 per
month to cover all expenses. Board
and room cannot be obtained for much
under $50, leaving her $3.50 for cloth
ing. incidentals, and provisions for
the future or course. the board offer
To excuse teachers from the summer
school on a good excuse. but that IS
only verbal. anil the teacher must be
ready TO fulfil13ny part Of the contract
II she signs II.
Teachers have been working on a
schedule in which their points were
increased as soon as any advancement
was made The maximum salary paid
was seventy-five dollars, and many
teachers were getting toward that
sum, but now the board lower the
schedule so that the maximum is sew
enty dollars, without assigning any
reason for 1t, or even letting the teach
crs- know about it
In explaining the new contracts The
superintendent says that If the teach.
crs will sign their contracts now. even
though the salary is small, perhaps
they Will be given raise amounting
TO one hundred dollars a year, next
year. according TO the efficiency of
their work. The question is, II the
beard can find money TO promise an
advance during the next school year
why did they lower the schedule this
year. or why do they not incorporate
that promise In the contract?
Another point which has caused dis
satisfaction Is that some fayoritisn
has been shown in fixing the salaries
The raise Is a mere pittanoe-from
fifty cents 10 four dollars per month
(for nine months), but few teach
ers with no higher qualifications
than the rest. have received a raise oi
little over ten dollars month WHY
5his discrimination? When teachers
ore working on a schedule. they eX
pect that all teachers OF the sans
class (that is. those having the saule