The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1913-09-05
NEW SALARY LAW.
Supt. Hamlet Offers Su89es-
tons to County Officers.

Superintendent Hamlett, of the State
Department of Education, has addressed
the following letter to County Superin-
tendents anent the salary schedule un-
der the new law:
'The old per capita system was too
rigid and unadaptable to local condi-
tions. The small districts suffered On
account of the disparity of advantages
school had all advantage in securing the
most competent teachers. The child
rem of small schools have as much right
to a good teacher as those in the large
schools. When the law was passed Gre
ating county system, supplanting the
district system, it was unavoidable that
the method of paying teachers would
become county plan. Hence the pres
ent law giving county boards the right
to fixsalaries. The man on the ground
elected by the people, knows better how
to adjust salaries so as to get results,
than can be accomplished under the old
per capita system.
''The new law is working well. The
The salaries last year were adjusted
more equitably and the results were
greater and better than ever before The
two great things accom- plished arc: The
addition to the salary fund of the en-
tire State, on account of local supple
mentary aid, of more than half million
dollars, and an increase in attendance of
approximately so 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 attendance in
school. 1t seems by experience 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 district
its heretofore unfair advantage, but in
no wise its rights. 1t was never intend
ed that the best teachers should have
cause under this law to discontinue the
profession. 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 Superintendents and County
Boards the following plan:
"Make your salary schedule as usual.
making little difference between the
initial salary os the teacher in the first
class school and the same teacher in the
second-class school, but add condition
similar to the following: Each teacher
whose school averages over forty pupils
for the entire term (or whatever number
may be selected) shall receive stated
monthly increased in salary, say fifty
cents, or whatever the local conditions
may justify, for each student above forty
in general average OF course, unless
the suggestions may be used to remedy
the conditions in your county we do not
recommend that they be incorporated
in your salary schedule. shall be glad
to allow your County Board to revise
your salary schedule at any time in o.
der to meet the actual conditions in your
county.
Il 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 a principal of
local self government that will eventual
ly spring great results in the develop
ment of onr common school system"