Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25

teachers should have a raise in salaries
to meet the high cost of living prevalent
during the last year. But Just how much
Of raise teachers should get was a
question upon which there was some diff
ference Of opinion especially between
the larger towns and cities of the state
on the one hand and the rural cornmun-
tiles on the other
After failing to put through a double
barrelled resolution to the effect that the
minimum salary OF Vermont teacher
in rura, districts and graded school
ought 70 be $500 and that the minimum
salary of teachers in high schools Of the
State ought to be $1,000. the conference
finally compromised On resolution sub
mitted by Commissioner NJ. f. Nil, gas
providing that there should be a general
increase in the salaries of teachers
throughout the state of AT least ~ por
cent of the salaries as they existed in
1915 before the United States entered The
war 1t took most Of the afternoon to set
the question Of salary thrcshed out. but
when this latter resolution finalI,- came
up for a vote it was passed unanimously
This is not in the form of legisa ton, he
cause this meeting has no power to leg
ieate, but is simply a recommendation
from this conference. The resolution
follows:
Whereas, the salaries Of teachers have
been deprecated more than one-halr by
reason Of the decline in the purchasing
value Of the dollar; and, whereas
The larger wages and opportunities Of
fered by industries have diverted many
ambitious young persons from the teach
ing profession and have also attracted
many who we're employed in the schools
SO that there now exists great scarcity
Of teachers; and, whereas
The welfare OF the State and the
reserva ton OF Americanization depends
in a large measure upon the chara cter
of our schools; and. whereas
AS there is need that the teachers be
assisted in their worthy efforts to reach
higher degree of efficiency; be it re-
solved
ID That a real crisis exists in our pub
lie school system that threatens a break
down of our schools.
tg That il is imperative that effective
measures be promptly taken to prevent
disaster
49, That it is essential N provide
salaries for our teachers which will
decently support them, relieve their UNI
rest and encourage their continuing in
the profession OF teaching and promote
a respect for the calling that will assure
a continued supply Of capable teachers
for the future.
~ That there should be a general in
crease in salaries OF teachers through
out the State Of at least 81 per cent of
salaries as they existed In 1915 before
the United States entered the war.
At The evening meeting a tesolu-
ton was unanimously adopted that Il
meeting of the school directors and Ill
pc rintendents OF Vermont, such a.. that
held for the first time THURSDAY. be held
annually from this time on at the call
of the State Board of Education
Two sessions of the school dire ctors
conference were held Thursday in the
auditorium of the Burlington high
James Hartness Of Springfield, chair
man of the state Board of Educs ton.
presided,
The afternoon meeting was called
soon after two O'Clock and the pur.
pose for which the directors were as
sembled was brought out in the first
sentence Of the address given by Nj
Hartness: This meeting is called to
recognize the right of the school teach
er TO increased salaries"
On the platform with Mr.. Hartness
were Commiss toner of Education NJ r.
Hillegas of Montpelier and part of the
members of the State Board of E6uca
ton, Frank II Brooks of ST. .Iohnsbury
and A. W. Hewitt of Plainfield NJ. c.
Weber of Rutland, another member Of
the board, was in the asse mblN. while
l.. r. Johnson Of Randolph, the other
board member, is in san Antonio. Texas
The address of Nj Hartness was a
bet Inv, Ian NV taa oh 70