The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-13
Teachers Association
Will Present Demand
For Salary Increase

Several members Of the Board OF Edu-
cation stand firmly against the Tor.
nation OF the High School Teachers
! Association. A number OF the board
members stated that they would insist
! upon holding the teachers in the High
| school strictly TO the contracts signed
last September which do not expire
until June.
Announcement was made YESTERDAY;
| afternoon that the teachers OF the local
| High school were organized 100 per
! cent strong. Statements were made 10
the effect that the organization intend
ed allying itself with the American FED,
Grafton OF Labor. W. w. Kcylor, head
of the Commercial department OF me
school and president Of the Association
when discussing the matter with an In
| telliBenccr. reporter last night stated:
I'VE are not n union in any sense OF the
word. We are An association TOT lhe
thetterment Of the teachers in general.
During the past two ycE-s the salary
increase Of the High school teacher in
the city OF Wheeling has amounted to
roughly Is per cent. In the same time,
our expenses have risen at the same
rate as any other PERSONS. IN other
schools the rise in salary during the
past two years has amounted in many
| cases to so per cent. In Pittsburgh
: they arc now demanding second raise
in salary amounting to 80 per cent more
! This will give the lowest PAID teacher
|
any of the Wheeling teachers are re-
ceiving at the present time. While |
| cannot say just what will be done by
| the association in ~Gard To salary at
the present time, l know that some
thing will be done in the near future.
We do not intend to go on strike or
! stage any walkouts or anything OF tho
| sort, and any statement made that we
are intending to ally with the American
Federation OF Labor are untrue.
Harrison Il. Pagan, member Of the OK
| ecutiye council of the association, when
| interviewed stated that the association
would present some demands for IN
creased salaries at the meeting or the
Board OF Education ON Thursday or TINS
! week. He said, Let me state That any
remarks made by any person to the
effect that this organization Is union
| or at all BolshcviStiC in its tendencies
| are without foundation. We do intend
! to make demands for substantial m
crease within a few days. but II Will De
attended by no violence Dr threats or
strike. We have in our organization
every teacher in the High school from
the principal, Hiram B. Johns, to the
assistant teachers in every branch"
School Officials Refuse to Talk.
When approached concerning une for
nation Of the High School Teachers
| Association. Superintendent of Schools
| G f Citizens refused TO make any state
ment other than that the matter would
be given full consideration at the meet
ing OF the Board OF Eduaction on ThurS.
day evening. Many Of the members OF
| the school board refused to make any
definite statement as to the stand that
! they would take upon the formation OF
! the association. Others were not so
rcticent and stated that they would
! permit Of no breaking of the contracts
which the teachers have signed for the
year, which stipulate the salary to De
paid for the year.
The matter has caused quite stir at
the High school There will be meet
| inn IF the executive board of the organl-
/ zation this afternoon. The association
has been formed but few days. the
| first meeting in regards to its formation
was held a few days ago. and as yet
there have been but few definite plans
made according TO statements made by
! its officers The officers elected are as
! follows: ..
president. W. W. Keylor; Secretary
! Treasurer c. +. Statlcr: Executive Com
| mittec. Harrison r. Pagan, Elizabeth
Higgins. Margaret Monroe.