Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-13
SCHOOL BOARD ACTS
ON TEACHERS BONUS
500 Payment in June Urged to
Relieve Present Exigency
of Force
GRATZ SEES WAGE RISE

The Board of Education will consider
today resolution submitted by the
women teachers organization Of Phila-
dolphia requesting that bonus of 500
b" given in a single payment in June to
each teacher in tn" public schools.
Sponsors of the resolution say that
the Woodruff bill. increasing teachers
salaries. if passed by the Legislature,
will not become effective in time to re
liCvc tho present oXigenCy of the teach e
"rs. Members of the Board of Educa .
tion. however. referring to tho action OF
tho finance committee Of the boar yes
tcrday in drfcrring consideration Of sal
ary increases until the passage or defeat
of pending legislative measures as Il
precedent. declare i is probable that "A
I similar postpOnpment of decision on the
resolution will be made.
The resolution reads:
"WhpreaS. there is great discomfort
among the teachers Of this. wealthy city
owing to the fact that their salaries are
totally inadequate to the present high
cost of living; and
"Whcreas. many of the teachers, i'll
spite of having lived as economically as
possible. have been unable to save any
money on which to live during the sum
mcr and
"Whercas. unless the Board of Edu
cation comes to their rescue. many
teachers will be forced to work all sum
mer for a livelihood and to return next
! fall to the schools in a condition unfit
| for the arduOus duties of teaching and
doing justice to the children of the city
! therefore,
BE il resolved. that the Board of
! Education be asked to give each teacher
in the public schools of Philadelphia a
bonus of not loss than one hundred dol =
lars 'Sl0Hl in one payment in June,
! 1919.
Defer Military Training
In addition to consideration of the
resolution. only routine business is cx =
pectGd to b" transacted 1t was an
bounced that no report on the resolution
Introducing military training in the pub =
lie schools would be made by the special
committee in charge of the measure
The finance committee of the Board
of EducatiOn has deferred consideration
of requests for salary increases pend
ing action by the Legislature on meas
uroS before it regarding public srhoo
finances.
No Action on Wages
Simon GratZ. who made the motor
for no>tponomont, supportedshis motor
with statements of the prospects Of III,
passage Of measures in the Legislature
increasing the school tax and providing
for salary increases for teachers.
II am told positively that Governor
Sproul.' said Mr.. Gratz. "favors th'
bill whereby the state will give 10 pc
cent salary increases TO teachers ant
school clerks. As for the eight mil
school tax favored by Senator Pen
rose. | believe Senator Penrose's Oppo
nents are unfavorable TO it, but sup
port a seven mill tax. | have talke
with Senator Ware aud told him seven
= mill tax would be insufficient to prOvid
for salaries and the restoration an
erection of buildings. | believe tn
. eight mill tax will pass,
Requests for salary increases Oh whic
action was deferred We're for clerici
r assistance and the chief school nurse.
j I'pon request from the WOme
t Teachers Organization of Philadelphi
. that their salaries be paid on the frs
5 day of the month. the committee di
e rected the secretary of the board
devise method whereby payrolls ca
be made up before the end of cac
! month.