The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-23
BOARD CANT SET
MORE MONEY
SCHOOL TEACHERS
Demands Call For 100000
YearIy-OetiCit of $751;
600 Already = Personal
Clash Narrowly Averted.

Salary increases, the granting OF
which would necessitate the expendi-
ture of approximately $500, 900 annually,
were asked of the city board of edu-
cation by representatives Of the Mem
phis Teachers association at the regu-
lar meeting held Monday night. The
request Of the teachers is for a mini
mum monthly salary of 800 per month
for grammar grade teacher and $3.50
as a minimum for high school teachers.
The 20 principals of the city schools
asked for a minimum Of s., 700, yearly.
Exact figures as to the amount OF
money that would be necessary to grant
the increases asked for are not OBJ
tainable owing to the fact hat no sep
aratton is made as to white and negro
teachers on the boards payrolls and
the only salary figures available makes
no separation as to principals and
teachers. The approximate number of
grammar grade teachers in the Mem
phis schools is 400 and the approx
60.
Using these figures as a basis, the
yearly payroll at the minimum salaries
requested Monday night would amount
to $5SS, 900, The approximate amount
paid out to teachers last year was $405,
600, or a difference of $lS3, 600. These
l6uISS 10 HDL llCtuu6 lle principals,
Very little hope was held out to the
representatives of the principals and
teachers by members of the board of
education, The board is facing a deficit
Of $l53, 900 this year and with the pres
entation Of these figures the board
practically disposed of the salary ques-
ton for the present year at least.
Bond Purchases Cause Row.
The petition of the principals was
presented by Prof. Gnuse, of Rozell
school. On motion the petition was
passed to a joint meeting of the finance
committee and the teachers and text
book committee, the joint meeting to
be called before he next regular meet
ing of the board.
The committee representing the
teachers association was headed by
Miss Morrison, of Central high school.
Misses Haaga, Oakley and Little also
presented facts and figures tending to
show the inadequacy of the present sal
aries of Memphis teachers.
A personal encounter between Tony
Walsh, member of the board, and a
brother of Miss Theresa Haaga, was
narrowly averted. During the course
of remarks setting forth the expenses
of teachers of the public schools, Miss
Haaga stated that last year some
teachers did without the necessities Of
life in order to buy Liberty bonds and
didn't think Liberty bonds were a good
investment for teachers who could buy
them only by depriving themselves Of
necessities.
At this point Mr.. Walsh remarked
to Miss Haaga that IL she were living
in Germany he didn't think she would
say that. Miss Haaga answered that
she wasn't living in Germany. Mr..
Walsh then asked If she wasn't of Ger
man descent, She answered in the af-
firmative, explaining that both her par
ents had come to America when quite
young and had been naturalized.
Mr.. Haaga Takes Hand.
During the heat OF the discussion
Miss Haaga's brother sprang to his
feet and, pointing his finger at Mr..
Walsh, declared that his people did
a damn sight more in the war than
you or any other Walsh and III prove
1t to you" The chairman finally re
stored order and Mr.. Walsh stated that
he had misunderstood Miss Haago, his
conception of her remarks having beer
taken as discrediting the Liberty bonds
In their plea for salary increases the
teachers presented facts showing the
living expenses OF teachers, wages paid
to men and women in other lines oil
work that did not require the train
ing necessary to become a teacher and
statements signed by candidates for
mayor and commissioners pledging
themselves to work for salary increases
for the teachers in the event of their
. election.
Albert S. Williams, state superin-
tendent of education, was an interested
spectator at the meeting and before his
> departure addressed the board and
teachers and heartily Endorsed substan-
tial salary increases for teachers and
expressed the opinion that the people
of Tennessee and the entire nation
were beginning to realize that teachers
as a class were inadeauately paid.
A rumble of matters OF a routine
nature occupied the attention Of the
board until a late hour.