New-York tribune., 1920-04-01
Teachers Are
Coerced, One
Tells Craie
Comptroller Gives Out Let
ter of Complaint, Explain
ing His Opposition to
Observation-Disclosures Bill
''Politics'' Is Charged
Primary Instructor Sees
Scheme to Retain Con
troll of Teaching Force

Comptroller Charles L. Craig yester-
day made public letter from a school
eacher in the primary grade, which in
some measure explains his opposition.
and that Of Mayor Hylan. to the Lock
wood -Donohue percentage salary in
crease bill for school teachers now
ncnding at Albany. 1t developed from
his letter that the Professional F.le-
,nentary Teachers Assoc alton. which
comprises all the teachers who IN
struct children in the first six years
Of schooling, the compulsory educa-
tion period under the law. were
sgainst the Lockwood Donohue meas
axe
Because the officials Of the Profess
sional Elementary Teachers Associa-
tion had refused to join the Fede ra ton
of Teachers Associations and get be-
teacher said teachers were being
coerced in various ways. She declared
the presusre being brought TO bear for
he passage OF the percentage increase
nlan-the Lockwood Donohue bills-''is
nothing more or less than a scheme for
the politicians in the {school) system for
retaining the control of the teaching
force, which they are fast losing"
The Comptroller did not desire to
make known the teachers identity be-
cause OF the trouble it might bring
upon her, but he said she was prim-
ary teacher OF experience and a mem
her of the Professional Elementary
Teachers Association. The letter sa id
in part:
The president of the Professional
Elementary Teachers Association Inc
has refused to Join the federation foc
the reason that under their method OF
representation a group OF less than one
hundred, # formed into a. number OF
associations, could outtalk and out
vote group of many thousands united
IN one association. in most cases you
will find that the members of the
federation are principals or high school
teachers whose interests are mostly
for the higher paid groups. To make
matters worse. many of these sixty or
more associations have as few as eight
twenty or thirty members. In the past
this so-called Federation of Teachers
Associations has always treated US of
the lowest paid group as though we
we're OF no Importance. We have al
ways been the under dog; we have al
ways taken whatever salary increase
,ney saw fl 10 hand out.
what has been the result? OF the
eighteen hundred teachers who re-
sgned last year only to 10 per cent
were high school teachers. per cent
we're seventh and eighth year teachers
and 81 per cent were from the kinder
sa-ten group. Hundreds are now
stueyine for promotion OF for other
nOsitionS
The Federation is now urging teach
ers TO indorse the percentage increase
pill. We are told thai in no other way
can VIC expect salary increase of any
slnd. Teachers are coerced in various
ways. They are made to think il is
ih" olil eliminating the three-year
spreadius clause. Sor,e have been told
that the school must sign for it 100
per cent: others have been threatened
with lower ratings. One teacher told
ne that a friend OF hers SAID that in
her school contributions Of 81 were
collected IN compulsive manner.
Propaganda Of all kinds against our
association j. being used because we
Aid no. get behind that bill
The dfferental between the sal
aries OF the kindergarten 6B teacher
and those o. the seventh and eighth
ear was, not many years ago, only
s12o. The state bill increased il to
$3.50. The Lockwood Donohue bill will
aaae i. s756. Do you wonder that
'eathers are resigning from the most
important Of al teacher groups We
al earn d. nucn OF even more In the
business world
Our work is so important we need
he best Of teachers, and salaries suffi-
lent % retain the best are necessary
We teach all the children, and thou
sands never have any other teachers
ne law compels attendance in the
Nrst six years. but il should no. com
gel children 70 be Instructed By poor
eachers or % attend schools where no
eachers ire provided
!" g nave Deen d loyal conscientious,
,sfd working lot of city employees
we have been fair in our deeands
O 80 20 be gwen square deal We
80 ssH Tor az increase, not percent
sge, but stated sum. one that viii
now that New York City appreciates
our worh, ana | assure you the crisis
mat = now facing us will be averted.
students and faculty of the New
'ork Teachers College, Columbia Uni
Sersity, Yesterday approved the prin-
e'ples Of the Lockwood Donohue bill at
mass meeting in the Horace Mann
Auditorium.
increases in the salaries Of all mem
oers OF the teaching profession will be
Urged tonight at mass meeting in
Ea'heglc Hal undcr the auspices Of
ne tltzens' Committee Of One Hun
n'ed 70 Save the Schools Judge Alton
.. Parker VIII preside William G.. Nc
Aooo, formerly Secretary Of the Treas
ary. will soe.t