Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-04-14
RURAL Teachers
SALARIES BOOSTED
ACTION TAKEN By RURAL SCHOOL
OFFICERS AT MEETING HELD
LAST SATURDAY.
WAGE FIXED AT $4,000.
Many Of Rural Schools In Iowa Closed
Teachers Forced to Engage In
Other Lines Of Work.

A very interesting conference took
place in the Court room last Saturday
afternoon. The county superintendent
had sent out invitations to the Off
cials of the rural schools in the coun-
ty to meet with him in a Conference
called for the express purpose OF dis
cussing the teacher situation. The
condition of the roads and the stress
of farm labor made it impossible for
all school officials to be present. How
ever, large representative body met
and the action that was taken will un-
doubtedly meet with the full approval
Of those who did not find it possible to
attend. The county superintendent
opened the discussion by giving brief
account Of the deliberations and ac-
tion Of the conference OF school direc-
tors recently held at Cedar Rapids in
connection with the Northeastern Iowa
Teachers Association meeting. He
then reviewed the local situation, lay
ing stress upon the fact that large
number Of teachers were about to
leave the rural school positions for
town school positions offered to them.
going into other lines OF work and va
rSous other.purposes. In summarizing
the situation he laid stress upon the
fact that with the large increase in
wages offered in graded school sys-
TENS, and rural schools in other coun-
ties in Iowa, the rural schools Of Del
aware county were facing a peculiar
problem. We must have teachers or
close our schools. Failure on our
part to recognize the seriousness of
the situation would most certainly
have grave consequences. The west
ern and southern parts Of the state
are clamoring for rural teachers. Hun
dreds oftheir rural schools are closed.
The situation will be even worse next
fall and already disproportioned sal
aries are offered to teachers as an in
ducement to come to these localities.
The problem was carefully and
thoughtfully discussed by all present
and finally the convention unanimous
ly endorsed resolution to the effect
that Delaware County fix the mini
mum salary for first grade county cer-
tificates for the coming school year at
ninety dollars per month and all 9th
er salaries with the exception of pro-
visional or third grade certificates to
a minimum of seventy-fiye dollars per
month. OF course, this does not bar
school boards from paying a higher
wage to teachers of merit. However,
it is felt that the feeling of unrest
among the teachers has been effectual-
ly quieted by the action taken and that
there will be no difficulty now in se-
curing sufficient teachers for the COM
ing year. 1t is urged that directors
contract with teachers at once to avoid
later competition. A large delegation
of teachers. who had been attending
study center at the high school build
ing, came in at the close Of the meet
ing and in very direct and cohvinc-
ing manner put their claims for more
liberal salaries before the convention.
The county superintendent informed
them of the action which had already
been taken by the convention and ask
ed for an expression If this action met
with their approval This was given
by the assembled teachers in most
hearty manner by rising vote Of ap-
probation. Taken all together, the
meeting was an inspiration to all con-
nected with our rural schools for
throughout the deliberations there was
abundant evidence Of the feeling of
good fellowship and helpful co-opera-
tion that has been the watchword Of
directors and teachers throughout the
past years.