Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-27
INCREASE T0OLOW,
ASSERT TEACHERS
Public School Instructors Dis
appointed With Allowance
Made by Congress.

The District PUBIC 6chOol teachers
are expressing their disappointment
with the provisions Of the District ap-
proprlation bill as reported to the
House, although they appreciate the
salary increases proposed. These in
creases. they feel. do not range high
enough to meet the absolute require
ments of present living conditions,
especially as under another law, lately
enacted, It is impossible for them to
leave the school service for better
places under the government. In still
another respect, too, they are disturbed
by the District bill in it's present form.
inasmuch az It proposes to abandon the
straight-out longevity pay principle
that has been in force here for some
time and to substitute for the auto
matte rule Of pay increase the discre-
ton of the board of education as to
the merit of pay advances from year
to year.
Statement by Grade Teachers.
The executive board Of the Grade
Teachers Union has issued the follow
ing statement regarding the provisions
Of the bill:
cit is not generally known that a law
has been passed discriminating against
the teachers Of the District of Column
passed March %, 1918. are the follow
ing provisions which strike at the op-
portunity of the District teachers to
earn a living wage:
"'That all branches Of the govern
ment Of the District of Columbia shall
~ tor y
lishment for the purposes of section
seven Of the deficiency appropriation
act approved October s. 1917.
THAT no civil employee in any Of
the executive departments or other gov
eminent establishments, or who has
been employed therein within the Pc
riod Of one year next preceding his
proposed employment in any other ex-
ecutive department or other govern
ment establishment, shall be employed
hereafter and paid from a lump-sum
appropriation in any other executive
department or other government es-
tablishment at an increased rate Of
compensation"
Inadequate Salaries Cited.
ut is a well known fact that teachers
throughout the country, because Of in
adequate salaries. have been forced to
leave their chosen profession to enter
Industries which pay higher salary. The
above law denies the right Of the Dis
trict of Columbia teachers to do this, as
their only opportunity for earning higher
wage is by working for the government,
which pays its clerks more than its teach
ers.
1.-The teachers Of the District are fight
ing for a living wage. They ask for a
minimum OF $1,000. The report on the
present District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill gives them $3.50.
1.-THE government requires of Its teach
ers a much higher standard of educa-
ton than it demands Of its clerks, yet
the clerks receive a much higher salary.
Humiliation to Teachers.
Teachers are subjected to the humilia-
ton of seeing their pupils leave their
classrooms before completing even an
elementary education to accept positions
under the government at higher salaries
than are paid to the teachers. Why
this discrimination? Is not the educa-
ton Of the youth of the land important
enough to demand 4 highly trained and
efficient body of educators, who are just
lily recompensed for their service? Is
a wage just above the starvation level
q proper standard for this class of pub
dic servants?