The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-04
TEACHERS PAY.
A Principal Cites Figures Against
an Elementary School Demand.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-str: The
situation in tho movement for increases
Of tea chers' salaries, in so far as the ef-
forts of teacher groups affect that move
ment, seems to be about this: The FED
Grafton OF Teachers Associations is pro-
rosing increases for all groups, and es-
pecially for the largest group, the kinder
garten to 6B elementary teachers. Vari-
Gus free lance associations OF the latter
group. however. are loud in their claims
that II but one group IL to be recognized
by increases II must be theirs; II all are
recognized. their group must have much
the largest per cent. OF increase.
The equal pay law Of 1912 pays all
new male appolntees by the same salary
schedules as the women teachers arc
paid. Subsequent legal enactments ex-
cepted from these schedules the men
who were in 1919 either appointed teach
ers. holders OF licenses, or students OF
the training schools on the theory that
these men had entered upon teaching as
their life work attracted by Davis law
salaries, and that the city was obliged
&c keep this moral contract with them.
But the extraordinary thing is that
OF tho 100 or more men in 6B or lower
in 1912 all but about 80 have either gone
to higher schedules or have left the SER
vice OF the schools: so that tho t2,leo
maximum was a vain expedlent to keep
men below the seventh year. Only about
1870 men have been attracted in six years
by equal pay salaries to teach in these
grades.
Therefore the equal pay claim OF the
women teachers In this group has this
20 stand on: $4,000 women demand
f2,160 as their inalienable right, because
sixty men OF An excepted class get It!
The argument for increases where the
supply OF teachers has diminished mos,
would point TO the men teachers as need
ing the greatest increases, for their num-
hers have dwindled from 700 to 100 men
teachers below the seventh year. and
from 1900 to 725 above the 6B in ele-
mentary schools.
The proportion OF men teachers in high
schools also has decreased very consid.
erably since 1912. There are now forty.
Ave teaching vacancies In Stuyvesan,
High School, a technical school for boys
and similar conditions exist In other high
schools, where women teachers are in.
creasingly supplnnting men teachers.
There are signs also that the proper.
| ton OF men principals OF elementary
| schools is diminishing. There are nov
246 women TO PA men principals.
Furthermore. the larger school organi.
cations, generally assigned to men prin-
c!pals. have meant wear and tear thai
is often fatal in !ts effects A larger
proportion OF men principals In middle
life have died within recent years thar
| OF any other teacher group.
SO that. II we argue priority OF CLAIM
on the principle Of supply and demand
the groups OF men undoubtedly have FRS,
| claim; for no group Of women in III,
school system can point to such d!minu
ton In the supply.
The sooner we get away from consid
er!ng the number OF votes cast by thu
several groups OF teachers. and pay NOR,
regard to tho good OF the children. the
better II will be. AMBROSE Corr,
| Principal =. 6. IS.
| BROOKLYN. February 8.