New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-18
POINTS FOR THE WOMEN
Commission Thinks Teachers
Should Be Paid for Work.


made its report to Mayor GaynOr and the
Board of Estimate and ApportiOnment yes
terday. For the last nine months the COM
mission has been struggling with the prob
lens of equal pay for equal work. The
salient points in the report are a recon-
mendation that the number of schedules
for the payment Of salaries be greatly re-
duced and the entire salary plan sinpIihed;
a square declaration in favor of the pay
ment of salaries on the basis Of position.
and recommendations for salary increases
amounting TO a total of ST. 700,3777. Accord
ing to the commissions plan 90 per cent Of
this increase is 10 go to the women teach
ers and per cent to the men.
The commission was appointed by the
Board OF Estimate and Appointment on
February {. II consists of Clinton L. Ros-
sitter and Mrs Frank II. Cothren. of Brook
Ign; DR.. Leonard p. Ayres, Dr. Lee K
Frankel and James NJ. Clifford, OF Man
haitian. Mr. Rossiter is chairman and Mrs.
Cothren is secretary
Among the more important findings are
that the proportion of men TO women
teachers has for a number of years been
steadily increasing in New York City, and
that salaries in practically all grades are
higher here than in any other city, al
though some of the other cities are rapidly
overtalSng New York in this respect. A
further result of the Investigations is a
decision that the present beginning salary
of $500 received by women teachers in this
city is not, properly speaking, a living
wage.
Under the head Of sex comparisons" the
commission has conducted number of
studies to discover the relative efficiency
of men and women teachers. One result
is the fact that promotion and attendance
on the part of children are practically
equal in schools under men and women
principals
An investigation of the records of $50 men
and $50 women teachers chosen by chance
! shows that while the men make better
showing, the differences are so slight as to
be Insignificant The only exception is the
matter of absences
! The commission reports:
/ Conditions of justice and of expediency
/ lead US TO the conclusion that salaries
should be based on position This can be
brought about without the reduction OF
present salaries, without reducing the num-
| Der OF men employed and without increased
cost. Although we find that numerous IN
! CreaSes are desirable. a salary based on
position does not of itself entail increased
| expense. 1t consists in defining the work
I
! tea cheers TO do that kind Of work The
| change is one of nomenclature. not one OF
salary rates. The plan which we recon-
mend to bring about payment on the basis
| of position without increased cost is, IN
| brief, as follows:
/ (a) One salary schedule for the payment
| of teachers Of ali children from the kinder
/ garten through the sixth grade and of girls
! I'm the seventh and eighth grades Ihis
/ schedule to provide for salaries substantial
! " equal to those now paid to women teacn-
| ers in the elementary grades.
! (b) One salary schedule for the payment
| of teachers of boys in the seventh anC
eighth grades. This schedule TO provide
! for salaries substantially equal 10 those
now maid TO men teachers in the elementary
| schools.
| (c) Salary schedules for the payment OF
( elementary principals graduated according
to the size of the school.
I'D Salary schedules for teachers or spe
cfal branches based on the kind of wOrF
done In those branches where some O.
the teachers do work OF supervisor!
nature salary schedules should be divided
| so as to make possible additional renunera
ton for this more difficult work This sltua
tion occurs in the cases of teachers o
music. physical training and sewing and IN
| sDectOrs of public school athletics
| (e) One salary schedule for the paymei
of teachers of girls in high schools. I'M
/ 70 provide for salaries substantially equa
TO those now paid TO women Iedcilei7 Il
high schools. -, r,
! ~ one salary schedule for the payrnen
Of teachers Of boys in high schools I'M
/ 70 DrOvide for salaries substantially equd
to those now paid TO men teachers IN hlsl
schools
The commission thinks that the loves
salary for a teacher should be $40.