Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-11
Public School Officials
Will Welcome Inquiry
Into System by Congress

Congressional investigation of the
public school system of the District
will be welcomed by the officials of
that system.
That was made apparent today
through the attitude taken by Off
Gals at school headquarters. in the
Franklin building No oihclai state
ment as to the opinion of the school
chiefs regarding the proposed inveStl-
CATION could be obtained, however, as
Ernest L. Thurston, superintendent, Is
in Richmond, Va, attending an educa-
tiOnal conference.
That merit among school teachers does
not count, and that promotions are based
on longevity only, as suggested at Con-
gress yesterday, was denied today. 1t
was pointed out that in the grade
schools all of the big promOtions-if any
promotion in the schools can be consid-
cred ''big'-were the result of merit, and
that longevity pay in the grade schools
ranges between $50 to $500 a year.
and that these amounts can be obtained
for not less than ten years service. Some
what different conditions exist between
systems in grade and high schools, both
of which systems, however, have checks
placed upon them.
System of Paying Teachers.
Briefly, the system of paying grade
teachers, with the promotion and
longevity, operates in this manner:
Groups of grades are divided into
Glasses A teacher is appointed at Il
basic salary of 5000. The same basic
salary applies in the first and second
grades. Each year the teacher re-
ceives an increase of $25 in her sal
AIRY, so that in ten years. if her leach
ing is not good enough to warrant her
promotion and yet not poor enough to
warrant her dismissal, she would get
41.1r~ Il
higher without Il promotion to the
next class.
In the next class the basic salary is
but slightly more-$650. In the class
above this. however, quite an increase
is noted. the basic salary being $500 Il
year. If the teacher stays in that class
for ten years she gets an increase OF
$500 for longevity-S30 year. In the
highest class which she can attain she
receives a basic salary of $3.50 with a
yearly increase of $40 for ten years
If the teacher remains in this class for
ten years she receives "A salary total OF
S1.3J0-the highest she can receive IN
the grades. To attain this isalary takes
between fifteen and twenty years.
Teachers Allowed to Appeal.
1t may be noted that the longevity
pay in no instance exceeds $40 year
or less than 81 month. The promo
tions by class are based upon marks
made by the supervising principals.
approved by the director of primary or
Intermediate instruction, according to
the grade, and finally come before the
superintendent Bf schools.
The teachers themselves know their
ratings and have ways of appeal IL
they feel they are Wronged- Promotion
after the rating is entirely an auto
matte operation, although i'll case of :,
tie between two or more teachers the
one of the longest service is given the
prom otion.
In the high schools the basic salary
is 1000 and with longevity amounts
after many years to $500 The same
system of promotion does not apply be-
cause high school teachers are not
limited to a particular grade. but may
teach classes from all four years. Be
fore being permanently appointed,
however. they must serve for one year
on probation. IF their service is not
satisfactory they are not appointed
perma nently.