Evening journal., 1917-04-24
Minimum Wage in Element
ary Schools Will be $500
Instead of $3.50
$4,000 REQUIRED TO
ADJUST SALARIES


Following report, which was unani-
mously adopted:
Your committee on teachers
recommends that the maximum an
nual salary for High School teachers
Of the Wilmington public schools
shall be increased from $1,000 10
S1.1OO and that the minimum annual
salary for elementary school teachers
shall be increased from $3.50 to $500.
1t is further recommended that
the two years of apprenticeship which
Wilmington teachers now serve upon
graduation from the training school
at a salary of $3.50 the first year and
S425 the second year be abolished.
1T Is further recommended that the
adopted plan Of classifying teachers
shall also apply to teachers the first
and second years after graduation
from the training school, and that
the salaries of these teachers shall
be increased according TO the
schedule at the end of their first
years teaching and thereafter
1T is further recommended that
all teachers now teaching who re-
ceive less than $500 per year shall
have their salaries increased to 5000
increase which their classification TO
be made this year may bring them
In explanation, Dr. Cooper stated
that the second paragraph referred
10 those usually known as apprentice
teachers. namely. those who were
serving in their hrst and second years
after graduation from the Teachers
Training School.
when the present schedule was
nut into effect a number OF years ago.
said Or. Cooper, they thought that
teachers Just out of the training school
should serve two years apprentice
shin before being classified other than
'C' class teachers There was much
complaint regarding this system, and
I'M order to meet this complaint, the
committee decided 10 recommend these
changes, not only because OF the low
salaries they receive, $50 month, Dut
Tor reasons of justice and equity
Last session the Legislature pass
ed a bill placing the minimum salary
OF public school teachers at $40
monthly. While ! am not qualified to
give a legal opinion as to its enect
nm our schools in this city, this resolu-
tion would have been submitted this
evening. anyhow. When that bill was
passed. II did not include or exclude
Wilmington schools, which arc sep
arate institution. II said nothing
about them, and am not sure whether
or not il Is applicable TO THIS city
under the circumstances, but that does
not affect this increase.
"It is eminently fair that this should
be done. The training school IS not
as prosperous as il should be, or as
we would have Il. The young women
graduates Of the High School can earn
much more money in private once
work than they can as school teachers
Regarding. classification, heretofore
ne apprentice teachers were not Gas
sified for the first two years. Ihey
we're classed as Class &C. teacheis'
which was not fair to them, since II
gave no credit for their progress ana
fhev should have the same opportunity
as those who have been in the service
longer Heretofore they have gone IN
from the training school under salary
restriction of S35 the first year ana
S425O the second year We reel ina.
fhev should have the full beneht OF
sunerintendent Scott stated that the
difference would total approximately
$4,000 annually, in round numbers ne
added his appeal to that OF Dr cooper
Tor It's enactment. 80 ...,,,,
1T is unfair to ask these young
women said he. "to spend then ume
IN the High School, then take I"u
wears training. and work lot 500
month. The most unskileo laooI III
the land. performing the eommohest
kind of work, gets twice as much do
these teachers. We cannot eNpeO,
the most competent of High school
graduates to enter the tlaln.il 3
school when the pay is so small ne ne
training school is not graduating hall
enough teachers to fill the Nacanc'es'
and we cannot get teachers llolu
other cities TO come here ana WopN
for less money than they received az
their former places, and u Woulo nc
decidedly unfair TO pay them more
than we are permitted TO pay our
own home graduates. / urge you W
take tho money Council approprlates
and nav teachers well for their wolk'
The quality of the teachers Is lhe
quality Of the schools
DR. Cooper remarked that Councli
would have to make the necessary
appropriation. since, without H. thc
board could 10 nOlnlhb'
president Baynard requested for
raer Governor Miller, who was IN
room 10 express his views OF the
matter. and he said:
Il have passed my burden on TO
some one else. and intended 10 re-
main silent, as a private citizen
though ! am intensely interested in
schools and all that pertains 10 them
in Delaware.
"Delaware has been very backward
both in city and Sta.o, in the matter
of adequate compensation for schoo
teachers. The character OF th'
schools depends upon the character
of the teachers. No State. no munici
pality. no nation is greater than tn
people who compose 1t. The peopl
make the nation.
at is up to US always 10 be liberia
in prescribing the course or stud,
proper and adequate buildings, proT
erlv ventilated and Of up-to-date cor
struction. and certainly 10 pay IN
teachers a proper salary for the
work. We prescribe ehem from adS
ing TO Their salaries. and they have
wav of adding to their incomes e.
cent wha. they may earn as salar
We should always pay them liberail
They have TO live and eat exactly
do the rest CT us. and small salari'
are not conducive TO good living col
z ditions. good health or good work. AT
rhere is no tax which the taxpayer wi
pay more cheerfully than tax, eve
though il be a large tax, which go'
II. ..r.I