New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-23
Ettinger Sees
Teacher Unions
If Bills Fail
Declares Defeat of Meas
ures Providing for Wage
Increases Will Shatter
Morale in the Schools
Says Compromise Will Be
Accepted Lowering Per-
centage of Salary Raise

DR.. William L. Ettinger, one of the
icials of the teachers increased sal
airy demands, who has been strongly
n favor of allowing them the 40, 80
and 20 per cent increases proposed in
the original Lockwood Donohue bill,
yesterday predicted fearful" future
for the local school system should
these proposed increases or the 80, 20
and 10 per cent raises provided in
the amended measure fail of passage.
Unionization of the teachers and
broken morale, with corresponding
effect upon standards of education, will
De direct evidence of failure to meet
the crisis, he declared.
Ettinger Still Hopeful
Although it appears the teachers
salary hopes as encompassed in the
original Lockwood Donohue bill have
been doomed by the action of legisla-
tive leaders in compromising the teach
ers' demands and then virtually re-
jecting en- toto the Lockwood Donohue
creases, Dr. Ettinger said he had not
given up hope that the compromise
increases would be granted.
He. said he thought the teachers
would accept, in view of the discourage
ing legislative situation, the 80, 20
and 10 per cent increases in the amend
ed LOCKWOOD bill. The bonus
plan proposed by Senator Henry NJ,
Sage, of the Senate Finance Commit
y H. kl
ere of expediency that cannot satisfy
the teachers in the least
No halfway measure is going to
bring about the restoration of the
school system. nor satisfy the teach
ers,' DR.. Ettinger emphasized. "No
bonus or temporary increase can allay
the dissatisfaction that exists.
The whole question is this: The
teachers have not had an increase in
nay which enables them to maintain
proper attitude toward their calling
and work.
"The effect of denying them sub
stantial increases will be fearful The
teachers have been reluctant to organ
ize or affiliate themselves with unions
tor the purpose of obtaining necessary
pay increases, but they will be driven
10 unionize unless their demands are
granted. At present there are about
i,UVU teachers VINO are mem berS OF
the teachers union, small number
compared to the $4,000 in the city's
schools"
Action Would Be Forced
Gould you blame the teachers if
they all Joined the union?" DR.. Et-
finger was asked.
"No," he replied. "They would be
forced to do so.''
There has been an impression among
persons opposed to allowing the teach
ers full increases, he said, that the de-
nands really came from groups of
teachers. Such was not the case, he
declared.
Recent strikes have held up construc-
ton work on new buildings and addi-
tons, the superintendent said. Work
IS proceeding on twenty-five buildings
and additions. 1t is regarded as doubt
tul If all of these will be completed in
time for the opening of the next school
year.
The New York Principals Associa-
lion announced yesterday that "New
DIRK school teachers will fight to
finish the Legislatures proposed bonus
substitute for the Lockwood Donohuc
bill"
The State Commissioner Of Educa-
tion, for New Jersey recommended yes
terday that May be observed as a
rally day or recruiting day for teachers