Evening journal., 1915-06-19
SATURDAY JUNE I9. 1915
TEACHERs AND THEIR sAIARIEs.


vTNHANKS to a stupid financial policy pursued by the
Baynard- Cooper Board of Education the city will
to the teachers in the public schools approximately
$4,000 at the end of the current month Those teach
still waiting for their salaries for May Those
for June will be due Quite naturally everybody
in Wilmington except possibly the men who are
sponsibe for existing conditions sympahizes with the
teachers and the hardshps to which they are being
subjected result of the Baynard-Cooper board plac-
ing itself in position that prevents It's paying the
ries when due
The who dominate the Board of Education have
spent for other purposes the money that City Council
appropriated for teachers salaries
That is the long and the short of it,
They did it in the face cf the knowledge that those
salaries could not be met when due and that the
teachers would suffer if that were not done.
We notice, however that the Baynard-Cooper clique
with Characteristic consideration when dealing with
matters Janitorial took good care to save enough
money to enable it to pay the salary of the favored and
influential High School janitor and those Of the ian
tors who work under his supervision That fact is al
ready the subject of much uniavorable comment by
the friends of the teachers They in It further
proof O. the nexplcable influence that the High School
ianor exercises the who dominate the school
board.
Trustns to the luck of being able to induce Council
additional money for the teachers later on the
Baynard Cooper Board of Education clique spent the
feaohers money They discover that Council is
keen about condonng that unwarranted piece of
business and that public sentiment commends that
councilmanic reluctance AT the same time Council
and the public sympathze deeply with the unfortunate
teachers.
1T was brazen piece of business for the Baynard-
Cooper board to spend the teachers salary money for
oher purposes II should have lived within the ap-
preparation made for its in the budget the
fiscal year Instead of doing So it spent of
thousands of dollars over and above the appropriation
Now it asks Council to make good the deficit so reck-
essly created. The Finance Committee and Council
a body would be remss, indeed, in the discharge
Of their duty the taxpayers did they fail to call the
board 10 account for what It has done
Meanwhile the teachers need their money to meet
current obligations and TO finance their vacation trips
Some are in actual distress for funds. Something
must be done for their relief when il is done how
it should be with the explicit understanding that
In the fiscal year that will open the board must
live within its appropriation, matter what may be-
The plea has been made that City Council did not
grant the board the money it needed conduct the
educational work No doubt Council felt it was going
as far it ought go in the matter OF enrusting
city funds board constituted the present is
constituted and dominated by the Baynard Cooper
clique That feeling also may pervade the incoming
Council. In view of the record made by that board II
will be surprising il the Councmen do not exercis,
undue care in the matter Of making appropriation
tor it to spend
There is another thing that should be insisted upoi
this year by the city officials and the public That
that the teachers be informed early whether they
70 be reappointed The eeventh-hour policy Of tn
present board year in that respect injus
ice to the teaching staff
The reappointments should be made early with tw
objects in view. One is that teachers who not d
be retained. there be any such, may have ampl
lime TO obtain positions. Another is that thos
who to be reappointed may enjoy their vacation
with the that their positions will be open
them when they return home.
We have a good teaching staff in Wilmington. II i
better in many respects, than the salaries paid wou
seem TO warrant. It's members loyal TO the educa
uonai interests of the municipality That loyalty
should be rewarded by the best possible treatment
me hands Of the board. Spending their salary mone
TOT other purposes and leaving them in uncertainty
TO their future employment acts that certainly can
not be cassed as either appreciatye, considerate O
fair
II is time for the Baynard-Cooper board to mend IL
ways. II should do something really worth while I
win back if possible, forfeited public and Councilman
confidence and respect