The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-18
HOLDS $72O AMPLE
FOR new TEACHERS
Comptroller Doesn't Mincc
Words in Answering 81
Questions Put to Him.
HITS AT THE LOBBYISTS

Comptroller william \. Prendergast
replied yesterday 10 thirty-four questions
addressed TO him by school teachers VINO
take exception to his attitude toward
them and their activities. His reply
sent as "A letter to David H. llolmes
president of the Teachers League. does
not gloss over any of the points whlct'
Mr., prendergast made when he spoke
to the teachers at Washington IRVING
High school on september 81 The fol-
lowing question and his reply indicate
that the Comptroller is prepared not to
niince words
q. Why do you i~nsinuate that
teachers claim to be "A privileged class
A.. Because they have demanded spec
cIal privileges. They went TO .Nlhany
and through eviou lobbying caused
laws TO be naoe raising their own
salaries. They have sought To cStab-
lish their own rate or pay researches
Of the state of the city'st finances and
the relative value of teacher service
MS compared with the service or other
employees. owing to the fact that the
education OF children is Of universal
interest and hat worthy sentiment has
gathered round IL, the teachers have
taken undue advantage of this fact
n have used II for their own private
interests unfairly.
In reply to a question concerning the
comparative merits of his going 10 Al
bany to light in the interest of the tax
payers and the teachers going there 10
frht for their interests Mr.. Prendergast
says that az an official Of the city he is
compelled to go to protect the people.
whether taxpayers or not. from just
such selfish legislation as has been
prompted by the lobbying OF the
teachers"
Mr. P%rendergast contends that merely
TO give more money would not Insure bet
ter teaching service. He believes that
teachers employed at annual rates SHOULD
not be eligible 70 additional cornpensa-
ton for extra work and he thinks S2o
a year ample for any teacher who is
Just entering the service.
To the suggestion that 100000 might
be saved by eliminating the appendix
of our school system that useless body
of district superintendent" tho Comp
troller answers that the city does intend
TO save more thar 100000 by eliminat-
ing excess supervision, but not ny abol-
ishing the district superintendent. He
tells the teachers that the tentative
budget for 1916 propose the elimination
OF 200 supervisors OF music, sewing
drawing and physical training. who now
cost the city sa25.ooo a year. 1t Is pro
posed to assign them 10 regular work
Ar for the comparative increase II
teachers salaries and the cost OF living
In the last thirty-fve years, he avs Of
icial figures how tha, rates of compen
sation TO- -eachers in New York city
have increased slightly moro han tn,
cost OF living.
Answering the criticism that h Wir1
plan entails the frightening Of the schoo
year -four weeks In the hot summer and
that quite a number OF children faint
during the hot spells. the Comptrollo'
says the Writ plan does not propose any
regulation of the weather. He says
further that the extension of the school
year was his own idea and not that OF
Mr.. Writ, and that he proposed II ~
responsc to tho growing demand fot
longer regular sessions rather h
special summer schools.