The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-20
Presented Petit 5, To-day
to the Bar % School
%
CommiN,. ,.oners
WAGE INCREASE FAR
BELOW LIVING COST
A QUESTIONABLE Recently
Conducted Produces In
teresting Statements

lie school teachers of Barre to-day pc
titioned the Barre school commissioners
for an increase of $500 in each teachers
salary for the present school year,
which increase, the teachers say, will
approximately cover the added cost of
living since 1914
The petition comes from the Barre
Teachers association and is said to rep
resent the unanimous desire of the
members of the organization. The as
sociation recently carried on question
naire, getting 62 responses out of
possible 671a. The QUESTIONABLE re.
vealed that 50 Barre teachers worked
summers from necessity" that Al
teachers had an average deficit of
Sl07.33 and that 46 of them received aid
from home or from other sources, the
average contribution in this class being
Sl52.44
Many of the Barre teachers are now
receiving less than S67j year and
some are getting as low as $3.50.
The T3 per cent increase in cost Of
living, as named by the teachers in
their petition. is the estimate of the
National Industrial Conference board,
while the statement that the salaries
Of the Barre teachers have increased
slightly under 20 per cent is based on
figures received from city official
These figures reveal that in 1914 there
were 10 teachers in Barre and that
they received in salaries S40.323. .fS,
making an average Of S57605. In 1919
there were 67ia teachers and they re-
ceived salaries of S46,650.66, making
an average Of S6al.l2. Subtracting the
S57605 from S60ll2 gives Sll492, or
the average increase in salaries between
1914 and 1919. This average increase
divided by the average salary of 1914
gives percentage slightly under 20
per cent. The Sll492 added to the $500
which the teachers now ask would
make an average increase of S4l4.92.
and that figure divided by S576.05 gives
q per cent of y asked since 1914.
Teachers Piece Out Their Earnings.
The following statements are made
by the Barre Teachers association,
having been based on the replies to
questionnaires;
Fifty-two teachers work summers
from necessity: whereas. in order to
renew certificates and keep abreast
with the modern trend of education
they should attend summer school
Forty-one teachers had an average
deficit of Sl0733
Forty-siX teachers received aid from
home or from other sources. This aver
age contribution was Slj244
Only II could take professional train
ing on a % per cent increase of salary.
The others could not afford TO, as even
this increase would not cover their liy-
ing expenses.
The average estimated sum absolute
ly necessary to defray expenses for the
school year of nine months was SS30.sS.
The ayefage estimated sum necessary
to live for II months according to pres
ent day standards was Sl,l5lS3.
Forty-four teachers favored a fiat in
crease The average was $500
Thirty-tive teachers felt that their
Increase should date from Sept /, 1919.
The 45 teachers who taught in Barre
City in l9lS-l9l9 and remained for the
year l0l9.l920 received an average in
crease in salaries Of S52 OF this num-
Der q received S25 increase in salary
Some Statements BY Teachers.
Some significant statements from the
teachers themselves are here given so
that the public may get an idea of how
the teachers feel;
No. 81 Il would like to earn enough
to live decently."
No. "A. Il think / should receive an
increase sufficient to keep from debt
and start bank account again. My
deficit was met by working at the
beach as a waitress and by being helped
by the family
No. s. In reply to the question, How
much do you consider you should be
able to save per yeary Ans. 1.-TWO hum
dred dollars and that would not last
long, if one were to teach 30 years and
have that the only means Of support
10 the question How much do YOU
think YOU should receive as an in
creaseg Ans. $500 Reasons for this
Ans. tai My training and experience
are worth that" (bl II cannot support
two people on less and | cannot make
IN further deficits" Question, Have
YOU ever sustained deficits at the end
of any school year? Ans Yes" Ques
ton, How were they met? Ans. BY
my bank account, which did not accrue
from my own savings
No. l3. II think that ordinarily
teacher should receive in accordance
with the amount Of training plus ex
perience."
No. ii. Has taught many years IN
Barre, says; Considering the fact that
I have saved practically nothing and
may not be able to teach many years
more / ought to save $500 per year.
No says II believe there should
be uniformity of salary for experienced
teachers in all grades"
No. 20. Il can live on $625 only by
doing my own sewing, boarding myself,
wearing clothes turned and returned,
and by being at home Vacations
No. 5 says: Il have refused a larger
salary to 90 to another place, prefer
ring to keep my contract instead, at
that time. =
No. 40 II would quickly take -
per cent of my salary for professional
training. if running a home, and caring
for three and paying $50 into the re-
tirement fund would leave the neces-
sarv balance from $3.50.
No 45 Il appreciate the value Of
psychic wages as a reward for teach
ing but they do not defray the expenses