Evening star., 1916-11-25
MAY SEEK HIGHER
PAY FOR TEACHERS
Salary Increase Likely to Be
Urged Along With PEN .
sion System.
PRESENT SCALE LOW ONE

Higher salaries for teachers Of the
public schools of the District of ca
lumbia probably will be asked of Con
sress at the same timo the bill for
teachers pensions is placed before the
national legislature.
Rev. DR.. John Van Schaick, president
OF the board Of education, said this aft,
ernoon that he considered It likely that
this request would be brought before
Congress. II 1t is done he promises his
full support. Such action probably will
have the support OF the District Com
mfssioners. Commissioner Newman.
president Of the board. having already
intimated his willingness to support
such a movement. In discussing the
plans for teachers pensions at a mass
meeting. held Tuesday night at new
Central High School. Mr.. Newman said:
Now. what you want to do is to ask
for an increase in salaries at the same
time"
Pensions Not an Increase.
1t was pointed out today that the
salaries of the teachers of the public
schools Of the National Capital are in
adequate. the great bulk of them re-
ceiving less than $l.100 a year. and
this after many years of service. The
pension, as it has been planned. can
not properly be counted as an increase
in salaries. as might be done in some
to pay the major portion into the fund.
the government contributing only !
minor amount. 1t is explained.
Public school teachers In Washington
ranges according to the class in which
the teacher is and according to the
length of service. In some instances
the basic salary, as 1t is termed. of q
higher class is less than the amount
of the basic salary of the lower class
plus the longevity allowance. The an
nusl salaries, which embrace both the
basic and longevity pay. are low. how
ever. Teachers must pass from on.
class to another.
Salaries of Teachers.
Here is a list of the number of teach
ers. in each class at present and the
annual salary:
Receiving from $500 to $500, eighty
teachers.
Receiving from $500 to s7oc. 35s
teachers.
Receiving from $3.50 to $500 tthe
maximum here can be reached only
after at least ten years in this class.
4s5 teachers.
Receiving from $500 to s1.100 (here.
too, the maximum can be attained only
after ten years), 434 teachers.
Receiving from $3.50 to 1880 (maNi-
mum only after ten years service In the
class), 119 teachers.
Receiving from $1,000 to $500 (this
is in the high schools and maximum is
reached only after eight years). 5o4
teachers.
Receiving from $1,000 to 1920 (maxi-
mum only after four years in this class,
which must be reached in part through
promotion in the class above), twenty
four teachers.
1t Is possible teachers now in the
service will be given the option of
joining in the pension system. in view
of the fact that deductions must be
made from their salary If they want to
be in it. New teachers. however. will
be appointed on the provision that they
Join in the system. This is to be done
in order that the school heads a few
years from now will not face the same
problem they do today-what to do
with a number OF teachers grown old in
service who are no longer efficient, and
who have no one to whom to look to
for support.