New Britain herald., 1916-12-08
CANNOT LIVE ON
 PRESENT SALARY Grade Teachers Present Argu-
 mentS for Increased Pay EFFICIENCY IMPAIRED?
Petition to School Board Says Cost of Living Has Increased a Third But Salaries Are Almost Station ary.

Is the average salary of the grade teachers in the New Britain schools such that, without practicing the strictest economy and taking advan- tage of material aid given by their relatives and parents, they would not be able to live within their incomes? Is the salary of these teachers so low, in comparison to other cities, that the maximum is not high enough to at tract and retain capable and efficient women in the teaching profession? Has the cost of living been increased so much out of balance with the salary of the teachers that they are in dire need of more money? These are all matters of really vital importance to every teacher and every citizen and were brought up for discussion at the meeting of the school board this after noon at o'clock when petition ask ing a substantial increase In salary was received from the grade teachers.
 Petition Made Convincing.
 This petition is unlike any ever be- fore presented to the school board. It is printed and reads like a debate, the teachers putting questions about the high cost of living and the low scale of wages, and then answering the same in a manner intended to leave no doubt as to the necessity of inn mediately conceeding all requests.
 The leading statement of the peti- tion follows:
 We, the teachers of the Gramma and Elementary schools respectfully submit a petition for increase in salar- ies.
 We present a statemen ent of facts to answer the following questions:
 What Is the per cent. of increase in the cost of living in New Britain since our last petition in 1911?
 What does it cost a New Britain teacher to live?
 creased in proportion to those o other workers?
 How do the salaries of the Nev Britain teachers compare with thos, of teachers in other cities?
 What is the proposed salary sched ule?
 How much will the proposed salary increase the school expenses?
 Expenses Increase a Third.
 Question 1, is answered in three L10 1l1SI CIou1IS I6IauSCTSoC WILT the statement that the general increase in the cost of living is thirty-three and one-third per cent. higher. The sec ond part states that a teacher, who ir 1911 received $70O, would now find that this same salary had a purchasing power of only $525. Part three de- clares that it is only by decreasing the standard of living and practicine
 
 make their present salaries cover the cost of bare necessities.
 How Teacher Lives.
 A tabulated reply to question Mo- : is as follows: Board and room, $364; laundry, $26; professional expense $21; carfare, $40; amusements, S1O; charity, $20; clothing, $2OO; miscel- laneous expense, $60; total, $741. Fol lowing this is the statement that the leverage salary of women Grammar school teachers in September of the present year was S760.S7 and the average salary of the elementary school teachers was S625.85. It. is only by having the cooperation of their parents and relatives from whom they receive aid that the teachers can live within their income''
 The answer to question is that since 1911 the general increase in wages of other workers is twenty per cent, but teachers salaries have re- matned almost stationary.
 Comparison of Salaries.
 The following tabulated record an- swers question No. 4: