Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-07
PRINCIPAL OF CITY HIGH
SCHOOL CONSIDERING POSI-
TloNs ELSEWHERE.
SCHOOL TEACHERS OBJECT
TO BONUS PAY SYSTEM
Many Contracts Being Returned I'm
sioned--Ask Straight Salary, to In
clude 10 Per Cent Offered as b.
nus for Loyalty to Sehool-6oard
FIGURED on Proper Financing.

the close Of the school year. he Is
not a candidate for reelection. he
said today that he was considering
leaving the teaching profession ana
that he might engage in business. his
plans were by no means made up, he
said, but he was considering three
business proposals and IL he finally
decided to quit school work he might
accept one of them. Mr.. Shuey Is
completing his fourth year as prin-
cipal.
That other changes are probable
both in high school corps of teachers
and the grade schools personnel, Is
seen in the dissatisfaction express
by the teachers with the contracts
sent them for the coming year. Inc
objection of a majority Of the teach
ers, it is said, is not due to the wage
offered them but to the bonus system,
which they regard as holding up III
per cent of the salary until the end
of the school year. This objection is
said TO be almost unanimous
among the older teachers who regard
the offer of a bonus as an insult.
Bonus Plan Objectionable.
While it was the intention Of the
board that the bonus was to be part
Of the yearly salary, the teachers
regard it as a premium on faithful
service, which is unwarranted. es-
pecially in the case of teacher who
has remained faithfully with the
schools ten, fifteen or longer period
OF years. To such an instructor. they
argue. any system which sets a
premium on service or LOYALTY must
be regarded as an insult.
The teachers ask that the proffer-
ed basic salary plus the 10 per cent
bonus be made the fixed salary for
the year to be paid IN equal INSTALL
ments as in former years. Teachers
who have no idea of leaving the
schools before the end Of the year
point to the possibility Of unfore-
seen circumstances making it i'm
perative for them to resign their
positions and sacrifice the bonus,
whereas, they would have no inten-
ton of Jumping the job"
Dual Purpose of System.
But the board had planned ad-
visedly TO provide the teachers an
increase and still be able to pay all
the obligations incurred during the
stkool year. The bonus was regarded
by the members Of the board as a
part of the salary. For instance, a
teacher offered $1,000 a year, would,
at the end of the season, receive an
additional 1920. making salary of
1890. The teachers, however, feel
that this means that the recipient is
on a $1,000 salary. with extra pay
for faithfulness which could not be
considered as a part Of the contract
price.
The board had in mind two things
when the system was proposed and
adopted. First, it insured against
general desertion if higher salaries
school year: second. 1T makes pos
sible an increase in salaries by pay
ing bonus from funds available at
the close Of the school year. The
scheme was to give the board an OPP
portunity to pay the increases from
money not available during the
school year, such increases being i'm
possible If paid on the monthly plan
from funds available during the year.
Older Teachers Complain.
The older teachers have complain
ed to the members Of the committee
on teachers and salaries that they
expected to receive recognition for
! She long periods OF service. but had
found that the increase to teachers
who had been in the local schools
only short time far greater proper
| tionately than were the older in
structors. This was explained
by members Of the board that
some Of the younger teachers had
| been receiving extremely low wages,
out Of proportion to what other
| teachers have been receiving.
| The committee regarded the situa-
ton as serious. because so many Of
| the teachers returned their contracts
unsigned. The teachers, it was said,
are asking salaries equal to those
! paid in other cities of the first
class in Iowa, but with the 10 per
cent bonus added to the basic SAL
arly most of the teachers will be
satisfied, it is believed and the basis
salary then would be about what is
! being paid in the larger cities.
! Means Increased Expenditure.
| The advance in the salaries means
a. large ilIuT1tso Il. tho oost % 4til,5
schools for the coming year. The
salary list for the current year Is
$4,000 and with the proposed in
creases, and the bonus system, it Is
estimated the payroll for the the year
i 19gO-21 would total approximately
$4,000. Contracts have been mailed
to Ill teachers. which does not in
clude all the present list or the sup
ply teachers.
i The contracts are returnable Sat-
urday but many have already come
back to superintendent Palmer, Of
] which quite number are unsigned
The board. at its regular meeting
! Tuesday night, took no action on the
matter of salaries, but referred the
question back to the teachers and
salary committee. It was the ex-
preston OF the board that the bonus
system should be abandoned and
straight salary rendered the teach.
ers. If this Is done closer financing
probably III! BE necessary.
/ Per Capita Costs $3.50.
/ Under the law the school is allow
ed $50 per pupil for educational pur-
poses, with an additional $3.50 for
free text books, making the per capt.
Ia cost allowable $3.50. The school
census OF the city Is 4,13s. giving the
schools approximately $254,O00 for
operating expenses for the coming
4 year.
There is movement in some cities