The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-05-23
TRADE BODY TRYING TO
SAVE THE SCHOOLS
ADOPTED WITHOUT A DISSENTING VOTE REPORT
RECOMMENDING PUTTING THE THREE-MILL
TAX IN EFFECT

Unless there is immediate action,
Ocala may find itself with very badly
crippled schools next year. The teach
ers of the city schools are very much
underpaid, as compared with teachers
in schools of similar standing. The
educational committee of the Board
OF Trade finds that the salaries of the
teachers in the Ocala schools must
either be increased, or the city must
be content with second rate instruc-
tion. "Not for the purpose of i'm
proving the efficiency and compara-
tive standard of 0cala schools, but to
maintain their present relative posi-
ton and past standard of service" the
educational committee recommended
to largely attended meeting of the
Board of Trade last night. that a
three-mill school tax be levied. The
report of the committee was adopted
by the trade body without a dissent
ing vote.
The members of the educational
committee who made the report are:
w. I. Gary, chairman, ]. E. Chace,
z. III. Martin, r. r. Hooker and w. Fl.
Cassels. 1t was pointed out last night
That the county school board does not
feel that it should levy the three-mill
school ta1 IN view Of the fact that
Marion county voted against the con-
stitutional amendment which au-
thorizes the same, but the situation
IS considered very serious one, and
an effort will be made to arouse pub
lie sentiment in the county to come to
the assistance of the schools. Every
member of the Board of Trade at the
meeting last night will make an eff
fort to obtain as many letters as pos
sible from citizens asking the county
school board to make the levy. The
educational committee and publicity
committee meet this afternon at 5
o'clock in the Board of Trade rooms
with view to giving the situation
wide publicity and to arousing senti-
ment to save the situation.
| The report of the committee, in full,
follows:
Report of the Committee
To Marion County Board of Trade:
The educational committee has in
quired into the present financial con-
ldition and immediate future essential
needs of the Ocala special tax school
district. We have had the assistance
and hearty cooperation of the trus-
tees of the district, the superintend-
ent of public instruction and chair
man of the county school board.
We find that teachers in the Ocala
schools are receiving less pay than
other teachers of the same qualifica-
tions engaged in cities of Ocala's
Iclass; that in many of the progressive
schools of Florida substantial In
lcreases of salaries have been the rule
during the last five years, and that IN
some instances this increase has been
over 40 per cent but during the same
iperiod the salaries paid teachers in
the Ocala schools have remained al
most stationary, in some cases no
increase at all being granted and in no
lease more than 8 g per cent. As
Iexamples of how our schools COM
Ipare with others in this respect, we
lare informed grade teachers in Ocals
are receiving $65 for work for which
teachers of the same qualifications
would be paid in the Gainesville
schools $85 per month"; and in Duval
Iccunty we learn that the minimum
salary to be paid a grade teacher fol-
the next term is $75 per month, which
i is equal to the maximum in Ocala.
1 The inevitable consequence of thess
lsalary increases in other schools I,
THAT the salaries offered teachers il
the Ocala schools must either be sub
lstantially increased so as to compare
Ifavorably with those paid elsewhere
living conditions considered, or, Ocals
schools, paying second rate salaries
must be content with second rats
teachers, and must expect seconG
rate service. The law of supply ant
demand operates here as elsewhere
and we cannot hope to get teachers o
the best qualifications unless we ar
prepared TO pay what such teacher
can get in other towns Of this class.
We find also that the Ocala school
are very meagerly equipped with Ger
itain apparatus in the way Of maps
charts, globes, etc., considered essen
tial by modern teachers in the dali,
school work, and that there are nj
funds at present available for supply
ling these needs.
The Southern Association of Col
leges and High Schools has recentl
adopted a rule that graduates of hig
schools which maintain less than
thirty-six weeks term shall not be ad
mitted to such colleges without ex
ANIMATION. Our present term IN tn
Ocala schools is thirty-two weeks, an
as we understand the situation. 1
order for Ocala high school graduate
to enter any Of these colleges withou
examination, the term for the hig
school department must be increase
l.,,A.- -. 49,