The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-24

Memphis teachers have formed an
association affiliated with the National
Teachers Federation and are demand
ing recognition which demand is ac-
companied with a big increase in sal
aries In many instances, They main
tain that the rules Of the association
win not permit the teachers as indi-
yidualS to sign contracts for the COM
ing year and at Monday nights meet
ing N the board Of education pre-
sented a new contract embodying the
drastic changes and demands for re-
forms the teachers believe to he lust,
The board, after an animated discus
sion in which vigorous opposition was
voiced by practically every member. OF
that body, finally upon motion by Mrs,
Isaac Reese, voted to take the matter
up In executive session on Thursday OF
this week.
The new contract as drawn up by
r. Grattan Brown, who appeared as
attorney for the teachers, demands col
lectlve bargaining, hat is, that the
form of contract shall henceforth be
dictated by the association and the
board shall not deal with the teachers
as individuals but that the problems
OF salary as well as others which teach
ers usually present in person to the
board he threshed out first among the
members OF the association before pre-
sented 20 the hoard of education
Incorporated IN the new contract Is
a new scale of wages that members
of the board last night declared TO
be impossible In view OF the fact that
the board now faces q big deficit,
Salaries Already Increased.
A minimum salary of 800 a month
for teachers in grammar schools ana
a minimum of $3.50 a month for high
school teachers means n raise OF as
high as $40 a month for some OF the
teachers, and the board contends that
the amount thus added to the budget
cannot be met with the present re-
sources, -,
Forecasting the sentiment which will
dominate the executive session OF
Thursday, Anthony Walsh, chairman OF
the finance committee, said. we
might az well take the bull Nv the
horns. The demands made are impos-
slble to meet, with the board Of eduea,
ton already facing a big deficit, II
looks like Bolshevism to me. II IS
question whether the board OF education
: shall run the schools or whether the
teachers shall do So
d The demands of the teachers were
presented Immediately after the repor
OF Prof. Wharton S. Jones, superin
& tendent OF city schools, was read, Tn,
Ii superintendent recommended that al
is the teaching force, superintendent an
B. janitors be retained except those re
n signing or leaving. He incorporated /
Ahip HAH W. Ae|S " " 49,
to be mailed each OF the teachers Sc
lected and that the final personnel 0
the teaching corps be determined afte
acknowledgement Of this contract an
u It's acceptance be received, Teacher
are paid by the t~welyemonth, the su
20 perintendent pointed out. and In tn
. past many of them have accepted pa
~ during the summer months aud whe
x the fan term opened up a number woul
he not show up. In fairness to the BOAR
ha maintained thnNr ehANlI InnNtf la.
h' what teachers could be depended upo
n, to be on hand at the beginning of II
~, term. or course in the contract Il
u salary was to be stipulated.
'st A raise of $40 a month was granite
" following tho teachers strike last we,
ny when the school tax levy was increase
from 80 cents to so cents. An aEre,
tn meht was drawn up at that time,
ell was shown, where the board pledge
m Itself to the teachers rs a body fu
me Their to Increase salaries II any of Il
ats funds obtained by the increase r
a manned after paying debts and runnil
ice expenses of the board.
'he Teachers Confused.
4 general misunderstanding Of +
agreement entered into following 4
strike last year developed when a de-
lry cation OF teaChers pressed their d
the mands for higher pay.
Sed The delegation insisted that the /
III / W 10Y kiHlltu lINn CtDtCmn
be- 1918, extending through the year 10
was promised for the year 1920 ms We
Mr.. Walsh took exception to this vi,
ana declared that any increase in II
depended upon the financial status
the board after accounts had be
audited and the budget of 1920 appc
TONED He was of the opinion II
there would be a sufficient amou
over and above enough for the niece
sary expenses of the board to grant
nHNtAl taa.aAA-. -
declared that the purpose Of the
crease In the levy was largely TO (
an increase for the teachers and m
certainly would get II II the financ
condition will permit,
HardWig Peres, president of /
board, did not agree with Mr.. Wa
in this, Mr.. Peres, probably the OF
|, member Of the board Conversant W
the probable findings Of the school $,
Ney, may have had in mind some n
concentrations to be made in the rep
OF the survey which are likely to DIR
heavily on the boards resources.
The discussion came TO naught u
It Is believed the teacher will conc
trate their efforts first on the quest
OF recognition OF their union and
problem of collective bargaining Def
THE adjustments OF salaries are finn
taken IN,
All the old teachers were re-elec
! land were guaranteed every increase
INnlCn NhcN are ehtllled, according
the boards construction of the aEl
ment after the strike, as drawn up
1 Marion Evans, attorney for the be
Z Of education and Capt. & 4 i
\ hugh, attorney for the teachers
ganization at that time,
\ Teachers To Be Assigned.
a The following teachers were ele,
n subject TO assignment: Martha WI
Il ington Myers, Martha lRnier. Bari
n webster Mrs, Oscar Smith, Der
n Matthews, Thelma West, Fra
n Newly, Floy Podesta, Louise Garih
N Miuie MAILER TO be transferred to &
\ schools, Evelyn Brown, assistant
domestic science in Vocational sci
and Emma Nevis,
N Miss Elizabeth Hancock was Gle
u head of the domestic science der
N ment at the Central high school
n succeed Miss Maryo Cooper, resig
Il Miss Hancock will be paid sit
= month. Her assistant will be
n Alice Woods, whose salary was fixc
y SIS a month.
Miss Anne Barron was elected ei
n Grade teacher at Peabody school,
VI Salaries OF Prof, {, +. Jester AZ
u l.. uighsaw were raised In recog
~ az the splendid work ACCOMPLISHED