The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-09-05
Anent The Salary Schedule Under lhe
New Law.
My Dear Superintendent.

My Dear Superintendent.
The old per capita system was too
rigid and UNACCEPTABLE to LEGAL condi-
tions. The small districts suffered on
account of the disparity of advantages
compared with the big districts. The
big school had all advantage in secur-
ing the most competent teachers The
children in the small schools have as
much right to good teacher as those
in the large schools. When the law
was passed creating a County System.
supplanting the District System, it
was unavoidable that the method OF
paying teachers would become coun-
ty plan. Hence the present law, Civ
ing County Boards the right to fix
salaries. The man on the ground,
elected by the people, knows better
how to adjnst salaries so as TO get re-
suits, than can be accomplished under
the old per capita system.
The new law is working well. The
salaries during the past year were adj
justed more equitably and the results
were greater and better than ever be
fore. The two great things accomp-
lished are. The addition to the salary
fund of the entire State. on account of
local supplementary aid, of more than
a half million dollars. and an increase
in attendance of approximately 30 per
cent in the rural schools of the State
But we have learned some things by
experience. Under the new law the
teachers salary is governed by quality
of work, as well as by quantity of
work. conditioned upon the actual at
tendance in school. 1t seems by eX-
perience that the law as administered
last year is favoring the small district
to the detriment of the large district.
This is not the spirit of the law. and
was never contemplated. 1t was only
contemplated that this law should take
away from the big districts its hereto
fore unfair advantage, but in no wise
its rights. 1t was never intended that
the best teachers should have cause
under this law to discontinue the pre-
fession. Evidently many have Now.
what is the cure for this condition?
The law is all right. The trouble is
with its administration. We therefore
suggest to the Superintendent and
County Boards the following plan.
Make your Salary Schedule as usual,
making little difference between the
initial salary of the teacher in the first
class school, and the same teacher in
the second class school, but add a con-
dition similar to the following: Each
teacher whose school averages over
forty pupils for the entire term, Tor
whatever number may be selected,
shall receive a stated monthly increase
in salary, say fifty cents, or whatever
the local conditions may justify, fOc
each student above forty in general
average" Of course, unless the sug-
gestions may be used to remedy con-
ditions in your county, we do not rec
ommend that they be incorporated in
your salary schedule. l shall be glad
to allow your County Board to revise
your salary schedule at any time, in
order to meet the actual conditions in
your county.
repeat again that the spirit of this
law is to give large discretion to the
County Board in the adjustment OF
teachers salaries. 1t is principle of
local self-government, that will even
tually bring great results in the de-
velopment of our common school sys-
tenn,
Yours very truly.
Barksdale Hamlet.
| Stunt Public Instruction.