Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-11
ALLEGES TEACHERS
IND. c. UNDERPA|D
Board of Trade Committee
Urges Relief to Avert School
System Collapse.
OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED

UIHEh ISSUES UlSCUSSEU
Recommendation for prompt and
effective relief in the emergency now
confronting the Washington public
school system because of a salary
scale in which teachers are grossly I'M
derpaid" was made to the Washington
Board of Trade in report from the
committee on schools of the board
presented yesterday.
The report also recommends that
members of the board of education be
elected directly by the people of the
District"
These recommendations are to be
considered at a general meeting of
the board January 81.
Due to Inadequate Pay.
'"The present emergency now threat
ening the entire collapse of the public
school system of the District of Co
lumbia," says the report. has been
created by virtual 'walk-out' on the
part of the instructors because of the
inadequate compensation. Jnfortu-
nately it is not merely a walk-out, but
permanent severance of connections
with the public school service, and the
stream of designations is SO continu-
Gus that it is leaving our educational
system high and dry undermining its
very foundations
'"The emergency demands prompt
and effective relief. 1t is divulging
no secret that the morale in our pub
lie schools is demoralized. But ii
could not be otherwise under existing
conditions. The reason that a great
proportion of the teachers of ability
who have remained in the system
have done so is because they are en-
gaging in outside pursuits in order to
make up the deficiency in their sala-
ries. This practice naturally de-
creases their efficiency as teachers.
They should be paid salary that
would enable them to devote all their
energy to their tasks of teaching.
Training Financed by Taxpayers.
1.-THE taxpayers have largely
| financed the training of these teach
ers, the return to the public being
their services in educating the
younger generations. But now this
special training. acquired through
years of study, is thrown to the
winds. just because the salary scned-
inadequate.
give the citizens of Washington an
effective voice in their school affairs
and their civic pride and good judg-
ment soon will be manifested in the
realization of public school system
that will have no superior.
In support Of the recommendation
| for election of board members by the
people William NICK. Clayton. MEM
F! Der of the committee, said That the
present system of appointing board
| members is unsatisfactory to the
/ Af CunraYne CnuYf or the
District and there is a fear that III
they are appointed by the Commits
sioners politics might enter into the
appointments.
"If they are elected by voice of the
people" he said. there can be no
politics, for the jobs carry no salary
and are purely civic in duties"
City's Future at Stake.
Row C. Clafin, chairman. of the
school committee. called the attention
of the meeting to the fact that the
city is facing a more serious future
in regard to teachers than the pres
Nine pupils entered the normal
school here, as against ninety two
wears ago" he said. II understand
the Wilson Normal is at present about
half full This situation is made APP
parent when it is SO easily seen that
ElTlS are Hot thS AoiAANe@
school to become teachers when they
can obtain more lucrative jobs out
side"
Appended to the recommendation. is
the salary schedule urged by the
committee. This schedule provides for
salaries somewhat lower than those
now being urged by the federated
teachers committees of the District
of Columbia. but still higher than
those presented by the board OF edu-
cation, and provides for increases in
salary in all classes and grades, both
for teachers and other employees OF
the school system.
MIR. Shllman's Warning.
There is at present a shortage of
100 600 trained teachers in the ma
ton" said Charles B. StillInan. presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Teachers, who is in Washington at
tending the convention of the Popu-
lar Government League, today to
reporter for The Star, .'aUd the nor
NAL schools OF the country are about
half full. What does this augur for
the future?
at simply means that the whole
teaching profession will collapse and
the much Wanted American educa-
tionai system will fall to the ground
unless some radical salary changes
are made.
''If the teachers OF the country
could secure right now a general 100
per cent increase il would barely res
store the purchasing power of their
salaries. The only way in which the
teachers can secure what they must
have is to affiliate themselves with
unions, and this they are doing. Many
Of them, out of loyalty to theesc6ooi
system of the nation, have refused.
but the others, seeing what lies ahead
unless something is done, have gone
on and are doing everything to avert
the threatened collapse of the sys-
tenn. Teachers in Washington, more
than anywhere in the country. should
receive salaries commensurate with
their training and ability. This city
should be a beacon to the rest of the