The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1910-12-31
TEACHERS SALARIES RAISED
BY BOARD OF EDUCATION, But
NOT AS MUCH AS REQUESTED

Bridgeport's grade teachers are
secure an increase over their preser
salaries on an average OF slight.
more than twenty-five per cent. Las,
evening the Board OF Education met
in special meeting made out It's bud
get for the year to be presented to
the Board Of Apportionment, which
budget included an increase Of about
$4,000 in salaries for the teachers
over the amount asked for on the pre-
sentation Of the last budget. The
Board accepted the report of the Com
mittee on Schools, Commissioners
Hallen, Havens and L:eberum, rela-
tive to the increase for the teachers,
which is as follows: IA minimum
for beginners salaries of $500; Fan
increase of $50 for each year until the
grade { new pupils) $500: 1st grade
(second pupils) $3.50; End $3.50; Srd
$3.50; 4th $3.50; 9Th $500; 9Th $500; 18th
$500; Sth $3.50: kindergartens, $3.50. s.
The increase when given to be limited
to 500 in each individual case
Every member of the Board was OF
the opinion that the teachers at the
present time were greatly underpaid
and that the increase to be given
them was fair and within the city's
means. They felt that the Increase
would be kindly received by the teach
ers. though the latter had asked for
more. The teachers had asked that
the maximum salary be the same for
every grade 5000.
The matter came before the board
when Secretary Hallen announced the
object of the meeting. Secretary Hal
len read the report Of the Committee
on Schools relative to the salaries,
which report was recommended for
adoption by Commissioner Bell. Com
ton. Secretary Hallen stated that
the committee before coming to an
agreement had gone into the matter
to considerable extent, had looked
into numerous ratings in other cities,
and believed that they had struck an
average which would be fair to all.
When the reading Of the report had
been completed, Commissioner Mona
han asked the committee If they con-
sidered any one grade more difficult
to teach than another, and if so, how
was it that they fixed a higher salary
for the eighth grade than the first.
I'm my opinion" said DR.. Monahan,
"the first grade is as difficult to teach
if mot more so, as any other grade"
1--WE figured" said Secretary Hallen.
'that the first grade did not require
as much work as the eighth. but did
require more work and time than the
fifth. sixth or seventh grades"
But the teachers in the first grade
have the new scholars to educate,
while those teachers in the eighth
grade have the matured children"
replied DR.. Monahan.
Some seven or eight weeks ago."
said Commissioner Challenger, "a dele
cation of teachers from the grades
waited on me. suggesting that they
ought and should have an increase in
pay. I visited number of the schools
and number of the grades. I was
Of the opinion that the teachers were
entitled to more pay. Commissioners
Lieberum and Bell agreed with me
that they were entitled to consider
able more. It seems to me that the
teachers in the 9Th grade because Of
their advanced work should receive
slightly more compensation than any
Of the other teachers"
Their increase over their present
ratings is the least Of any of the
teachers" sad Secretary Hallen, sit
is but 500 while there are only few
who shall receive that amount
I'm the eighth grade" said DR..
Monahan, ''the child is well develop
ed. is ambitious to go further. The
child. This is not so with the be-
ginners. they are unframed"
"In comparisons made of the SAL
aries pa in twenty-five cities.'' said
Commissioner Hallen, 'tthe committee
found that in the great majority Of
cases eight grade teachers are paid
more than those in the first grade"
Il don't think We should take any
notice of what is done in other Cities"
broke in Commissioner Bell, elf Bridge
port can pay them. let it be done at
once, they certainly need all that can
be given them. Even though other
cities may be lower or greater accord
ing to grades. they may be different
than Bridgeport. Perhaps their STAN
dards Of teachers are not as good. In
my belief. the teachers in this city
are on a higher standard than the
teachers Of most other cites of this