The daily sentinel., 1912-12-19
MAY
JOIN IN GREAT
WAGE STRIKE?

Teachers in Grand junction
grade schools are pondering over
the action taken by their sisters in
profession in the Denver public
schools, who have organized solidly
and demand more salary. The teach
ers here admit that they want more
salary. that they need more salary.
but say they are not prepared as
yet to take any action to bring their
salary to q satisfactory basis.
In Denver the teachers went to the
schoolboard with an armor-plated ar
gument hard to combat. They state
that the janitors who dress as they
please and can hold their positions
steadily for years without advancing
one iota In mental, physical or per-
sonal adornment, get high pay. The
school teachers with constantly in
creasing needs for greater mental ad-
vancement. for keeping fully abreast
of the times and for keeping them
selves attired in n neat, becoming
and up-to-date manner get consid-
erably less pay. but are they going
to stand 1t? No, they are not, and
unless the Denver school board comes
across with more of the long green
debt assuagers they may be under the
painful necessity of advertising for
more talent on quick notice.
Several local teachers were inter
viewed today regarding their views.
and all were willing to talk. but none
were willing TO have their names
used. as they did not care to pull
their chairs out from under them
selves and sit on the floor of dis
missal. Not until they are banded
together in common demand, will
they allow their names to be identi-
fled with grievance clause. They
were asked IL they wanted higher
salaries, and considered themselves
at present underpaid.
I'VE are not receiving as much as
we feel we deserve at the present
time. We are. expected to get along
on our old salaries which We have
been receiving since the days when
living was cheaper. of course, with
few small raises in pay, but not
enough to make up the difference
in the cost of living, and still we
are expected to breast the tide of So
cial advance, appearing well dressed
and neat at all times, and being well
, informed on all of the latest ad-
vances of the day-to keep in uni
form touch with which, costs more
every year said one of the teachers
/ WHO mas spent i've or slA years Win
| Grand Junction schools.
Another teacher said, THE Den.
yer teachers have had two raises tC
| our one. and have salary that av.
erages higher now, considerably high.
er. We teachers are looked up to by
all of the children. and must be I'll
In every way to help in the moulding
of their ideas and to appear for one
time in a slovenly or slipshod ap
parel would mean our instant dis
missal. Then we must travel ant
to travel costs money. 1t is neces
sary to refresh MS and keep us II
advance. A teacher cannot go back
She must go ahead and the minute
she stands still or fails to show tha
she Is up to the minute In the re
| quirement which demand money tc
\ attain, out she goes. think We
should have better pay and would b'
|, willing to join the movement If II !.
started here.
II Grand Junction grade teachers ge
form $55 to $S5 per month. accord
ing to length, OF service and grade.
taught. 1t is harder for a teacher il
the eighth grade to keep up t.
snuff than the teachers OF, the thirt
and fourth grades. because she II
Il idSlAS tuc uOSt luuulSitiNe peilOu IL
the young lives she deals with ant
must be heavily freighted with In
| formation of many kinds and mus
\ dress with care. +s..e
\ Janitors do not need to wear any.
!. thing stylish or modish and can give
complete satisfaction garbed who'll,
4 In blue jeans, They thereby have
! the advantage over the teachers with
smaller pay than they, and can save
money. One of the teacher sale
\ today. "Of course. know they gel
more than we do. but so does the
4 garbage man"
The seed of discomfort has beer
1 sowed in the Grand Junction corps
| of teachers, and while they do not
anticipate any immediate action they
do not deny its possibility and some
even dare to ardently hope for an
! outbreak which would result in their
| getting better pay. They feel tina,
| they deserve 1t, and undoubtedly be-
! fore long will 20 after it,