The Washington times., 1919-11-22
URGE HIGHER PAY
FOR D. c. TEACHERS
Continued from Page 14.)

in personality, character. and tram
ing?" he asked in his concluding re-
marks.
The brief which he presented said:
The problem presented to this COM
mission IN the reclassification OF the
teachers of the District of Columbia
Is a question of vital Importance, not
alone to this community but to the
American Republic. The problem is
that of revaMating the work of
education among the occupations of a
nations life"
Sits In Judgment.
This commission presents the
unique example of the authorized
representatives of the United States
sitting in judgment upon the deterA
mination of the relative place in the
Industrial scale which should be oc-
cupied by the men and women who
are responsible for the success or
failure of that Institution so often re-
ferred to as the .bulwark of our lib
erties'-The Common School of Amer
lea.
This problem Is not fundamentally
a question OF allotment OF compensa-
ton to particular individuals, but 1t
Is an allotment OF such compensation
to- certain labor of acknowledged re-
to attract to this labor men and wom-
en- possessed of the high qualities and
training necessary for the broadest
and best development Of the youth
of this land"
Business Manager Suggested.
In detailing the duties, RESPONSE
bilities and value of the official in
the school organization, the brief
submitted by Mr.. Thurston recon-
mends the creation of new admin
istrative office, that of business
manager
II is pointed out that many school
officials whose time and energy ought
to be given chiefly to educational
matters have been made responsible
for important business details.
The creation of separate business
orga imitation for the school system
with properly qualified official in
charge and with an adequate clerical
force to take over the general bust
ness administration of the scho ool sys-
ID. c. Far Behind.
The brief states that whiIe> hieh
school principals in washington>rc re-
ceive but $500 a year. with but one
exception, the average salary for suci
a position is about $4,000. while De-
troit pays $1,000; New York, $500,
and Jersey City, $4,000
The spirit OF the class room teach
er Is the spirit of the school," the
brief concludes, land without the co..
operation of a teaching force of
splendid training and high ideals the
work and direction of the official
must fail TO accomplish that for which
the official exists"
Mr.. Thurston stated that the COM
mittee Of teachers were not fully
prepared to answer the recommends
ton of an advisory subcommittee Of
The reclassification commission that
teachers be put under civil service. He
asked for permission to present n
later brief on this issue
Favor InAependent Exanineru.
Mr.. Thurstonf declared, however
that there seems to be q general
opinion among teachers in favor of
the present independent board of ex-
aminers because OF it's close relation
to the school organization.
The present insufficient time for
normal training and the present ar
oitrary arrangement of teachers in
artincial salary classes initiates
against efficient SERVICE" the brief
presented by Miss Alton stated.
Under the present system all
regular teachers entering the schools
must do so by way of the primary
grades As soon as the teacher has
acquired sufficient proficiency she is
moved to higher grade and higher
salary class. This puts the child in
the hands Of the improved teacher
during the most plastic years of his
school life and forces the efficient
primary teacher into an uncongenial
type OF work
Gulf Between Branche..
TN addition to this unfortunate
condition the kindergarten teacher is
denied all entrance into grade work.
and the grade teacher is denied all
entrance into kindergarten work, so
that an unnecessary gulf has been
formed (which the kindergarten child
must bridge with much waste Of
time and anguish Of spirit"
1t was recommended that with
heightened and amplifed normal
courses and higher professional quail
ifications for entrance into the schools
new teacher should be able to MT
into the type of work where she will
be most valuable.
The brief emphasized that "No
teacher should be so humiliated as to
be forced to become a parasite on
either her family or her community"
because of the low salaries paid.
In considering the comparative pay
OF teachers and other workers, the
report took into account the cost of
preparation of work. A table of ex-
penses shows that a girl who studies
to be a teacher entails an expense of
nearly $4,000. This covers a period of
seven years preparation. 1t was de-
ciared that while girls going into
other professions realize an income
while preparing for their work, a girl
studying to be teacher has no in
come.
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