Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-16
THE new SCHOOL
LAWS OF iowa
SUPERINTENDENT OTTILLIE PRE-.
PARES SERIES OF ARTICLES
on NEW LAWS.
INTERESTING FACTS EXPLAINED
Readers of The Democrat Should Read
the Series of Articles
Carefully.
(By County superintendent

At recent convention Of County
Superintendents at the State Teach
ers College at Cedar Falls consider
able time was spent in the study and
analysis of recent school legislation.
The meetings were very instructive
and profitable to those in attendance.
An outstanding feature of the dis
cussions that seemed to impress all
alike, was the apparent vagueness
and uncertainty Of several Of the new
statutes passed. On the assumption
that they will prove equally, difficult
Of Interpretation to school officers
we have prepared and shall publish
during the summer months in the
newspapers of the county a series Of
articles dealing with such school
legislation as enters Immediately into
the administration Of our schools.
We wish to take this opportunity to
express our appreciation to the news
papers of the county for their gener-
osity and cooperation in allowing us
the necessary space for these dis
cuSstOns,
The one statute that undoubtedly
should have our first consideration Is
the new wage law. There are a num-
ber Of features in connection with this
bill that are not apparent on first
reading. AS the bill, which is given
below, reads, it makes distinction
in salaries paid to teachers with and
without experience. The question is
what constitutes successful teaching
experience. The County Superinten-
dent by virtue Of his office has final
jurisdiction in this matter. The Of
fee provides teachers with blank
forms which should be signed by the
director or superintendent OF each
school in which the teacher taught the
proceeding year. If through these
blanks satisfactory evidence OF
successful teaching experience is
brought or in case of refusal by the
director to sign the blank il other
satisfactory proof of professional sue
cess can be secured, and If the county
superintendent has further evidence
on his records that the teacher has
shown good professional spirit
throughout the year he will properly
endorse her certificate to that effect.
II a teacher has not such statement
signed by superintendent stamped on
her certificate she is entitled only to
such compensation as is designated
for teachers without experience. This
does not prevent directors from pay
ing more if they feel inclined to do so
The teacher is entitled to the increase
based on successful teaching exper-
ience" only when such experience has
been actually gained on the certificate
which she is holding at the time Ex-
perience gained on second grade
will not apply on first grade, etc
Teaching experience on provisional
will not be admitted under this law
Also, such teaching experience will
not exempt the teacher from the re-
lquired twelve weeks Of normal train
ing henceforth. Provisional certifi-
Gates will be issued only to teachers
with at least year Of college train
ing.
Points earned for attendance at
summer school will hereafter have
no direct bearing upon the salary paid
to the teacher. However, directors
in hiring the teachers should take in
to consideration such summer school
attendance and the grades recorded
on the teachers certificate as we'll as
their past success in determining the
worth of the teacher in excess Of the
minimum salary required by law. A
poor teacher is not worth the mini
mum salary. A good teacher is often
times worth much more and should
be paid accordingly. Directors who
have not yet hired their teachers are
urged to do so at once. Strong teach
ers are signing up for positions rap
idly and you will have little choice
left unless you act at once. Below
we give the new minimum salary
scale as passed by the 3Sth General
Assembly of Iowa.
BY action of the 3Sth General As
sembly of Iowa, the old Teachers
Minimum Wage Scale" was repealed
and a new Minimum Salary Scale
is made effective. The minimum sal
ary to be paid in Iowa under the new
law is determined by Certifcation.
Training and Experience. The law
went into effect on July 4, 1919.
The school district can not legally
pay less than the minimum given in
the following scale. The teacher can
not accept less. School boards where
possible should pay their teachers
more than the minimum required, ac-
cording to circumstances and special
qualifications. The scale is as fol-
lows:
Graduates of Four Year Course in
an approved college with Iowa State
Certificate or Iowa State Diploma:
Minimum. per month ---------$10O.00
Minimum after 1st two years sue
cessful experience, per mo. $4,000
| Graduate of Two Year Normal
Course with Diploma or equivalent
and who hold an Iowa State Certifi-
cate:
Minimum, per mo. -----------S 5000