The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-08
WILL NOT STRIKE
Topeka School Teachers Expect
to Get Justice.
Put Their Plea in the Hands of
Citizens OF City.
ALREADY HAVE BACKING
Woman's Club Requests School
Board to Meet Demand.
Suggest Increased Tax Lew to
Provide the Money.


/ The teachers of the Topeka public /
schools viii not strike. This statement /
was given to the State Journal this |
morning by r. W. Coppedge. president
of the high school guild The teachers
IN their request for an increase in sal
airy know that the individual members |
| of the board of education are in favor /
OF granting their request and that it
IS only the financial condition of the
institution that is holding the school
board from granting That which they
are personally in favor of, Coppedge
says
The united teachers in the place of
striking will petition the business men
and organized bodies of the city for
tlIei1 cooperation, according 10 MIR
| Coppedge. To strike would be foolish
and entirely out of harmony with the
spirit of the teachers organizations
I Expect to Get Increase.
II The bonus for next year which was
granted the teachers at the June meet
1 ing of the board of education was
turned down by the organizations be-
4 cause it was insufficient and was in
no way similar TO the increase which
the teachers had been led to believe
woe. be granted them. 1t was only
I temporary action and would be in
>ofce for only single year.
= The teachers of Topeka insist that
I the increase in salary should not be less
II than 500 per year and that it should
be of a permanent nature Accord
II iugiy when the recent bonus OF $40
per year was declared by the board,
the offer was turned down Now the
/ proposition is in the hands of the cIt1-
zens Of Topeka and the teachers feel
Il that their request will be granted
when the school board understands
that the citizens are in favor or the
increase.
lowing seven facts upon which they
claim that their salaries should be
increased:
The Seven Facts
First-There has been no change IN the
salary schedule for the high school teach
Seco1d-Of twenty-eight cities of the mid
die west OF approximately the same SIZE
as Topeka with the exception of two
cities, Topeka pays her high school teach
ers the lowest salaries, her maximum be-
ing 81 200. and that Of other cities being
81. zoo to $1,000. Since these statistics were
secured in January, 1917, number Of
these schools have increased their salar1es-
for example, Omaha has increased the Sal
aries Of her teachers 20 per cent .t,o,
years have increased 35 TO 10 per cent
Practically every corporation IN the eopn-
| try has recognized this condition and mas
4 voluntarily granted wage and salary IN
l creases amounting to 20 per cent IN IKE
in Topeka have followed the general in
crease that has prevailed Throughout the
4 dnsrrv in Topeka has increased its charges
and profits to meet the changed conditions
Topeka. through the beard OF + eaqca9o y.
meet these changed conditions For e1-
ample, teacher paid 500 a week at [ne
virginia for two meals day a year ago
now she pays $500. This one item alone FOR
the year would be an increase IN expense
OF So. The teachers are offered a bonus
for one year. Of $40 to meet all the in
creased expenses
All Money Back to People.
T,z1- - n
| in paying teachers salaries. AT the pres
eut cost of living it takes nearly every
cent they receive TO live Hence. the mon
TopsR Ras '-eN -, -,
amount Of the debt incurred for the con-
srruction of buildings which the board
reouest of the teachers for increased sal
aries but the board is using the money TO
pay off Indebtedness only, and the teach
who have repeatedly recognized by their
individual statements that the reqQest OF
the teachers for an increase of salary IS
Just. compelling the teachers TO pay TINS
lead us to believe that the superintendent
of schools and two members of the board
are supporting US in our request. as tndl-
Gated By the bulletin sent out May II. 1917
from the superintendent off1ce TO every
member of the teaching force
Seventh-The code Of educators in gen
eraI is against securing their rights thru
the medium OF the strike The rights OF
the teachers are in the hands OF the c1Il-
! zens of Topeka, who, we hope. can pc
trusted TO secure Justice and fair play Tor
the people to whom they entrusc the eou-
cation of their children
The faculty members of the Topeka
high school have been the most ac-
tive organization in this move, fol-
lowed closely by the Topeka Grade
School Teachers club. Already the
increase has been sanctioned by the
Woman's club and a resolution to that
effect was presented to Mr.. Coppedge
this morning.
Following is the resolution Of the
Womans club:
Woman's Club Resolution.
Whereas. the legislature of Kansas has
made it possible to increase the school tax
levy; and
Whereas. the cost of living has increased
more than 80 per cent since the present
scale Of salaries Of the teachers of the pub
lie schools Of Topeka was fixed seven years
| whereas. the things that make for in
teIlect and character in a community are
of more vital importance than things per
well being of the educators TO whom
intrust the training of the character and
minds of our children during the forma-
ton years. is of primary Importance
Therefore be it resolved by the Wo-
mans Club of Topeka that the board of
education be earnestly urged to make such
tax levy as is necessary n order that the
salaries of our teachers may be increased
so as TO place our schools in a coordinate
Il nil rfa ra1f y faer