The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-03-19
ADOPTS merit SYSTEM.
Radical Change Is Made
BY School Board
AFFECTS THE SALARIES
Wage Schedule Not Given Out
For Publication BY the
Directors

Radical changes In the matter of
salaries for teachers in the Mankato
public schools were made last even
ing at an executive session of the
board of education. The reporter pres
ent last night was requested to leave
the room. Hereafter teachers will
be paid salaries on the basis of mer-
it and time Of service, the question
of merit to play the most important
part in the granting of salary in
creases. Mankato is one of the few
cities in the state to adopt this sys:-
TEN of paving teachers. 1t is consid
cred by all school authorities a step
of progress when this method is
adopted.
Because of the fact that teachers
are paid OH merit basis the board
declined to give out, as heretofore.
the salaries which the various teach
ers receive. for publication. It was
stated that the public might fail 10
understand the reason for varions
salaries paid. A formal request for
list of teachers with the salaries
they receive was made by The Free
Press, but it was not given out. 1t
was explained that in other cities
where the merit system has been
adopted the salaries of teachers are
not made public
Report by Mr.. Seile.
Superintendent E. S. Selle made a
detailed report to the board on the
matter of salaries, the increased cost
of living and the schedule which he
recommended for the coming year.
Mr. Selle showed list of the salaries
paid all the teachers in the high and
graded schsools in 1913 IA. showed
what an equivalent salary in 1919 20
would mean, based on an increase of
100 per cent, which has taken place
in the cost Of living. He then show
ed the actual salary of teachers and
the difference as compared with what
they should receive in view of in
creased costs.
The average of what high school
teachers should receive yearly was
$1.4S5 and Mr.. Selle recommended an
average salary Of s.. 40S. The aver
age for all grade schools he proposed
for next year as $3.50. Comparing
salaries received HI Mankato with
other cities Superintendent Selle re-
ported as follows:
The Detailed Statement.
"The schedules that other school
districts will put into effect for next
year will serve as. another basis for
deciding what salaries we should Of
fer here next year.
"Fairmont will pay minimum OF
$3.50 and a maximum of $3.50 to
their present women teachers in high
school; $500 to the men. The agri-
culture instructor is to receive S2220.
In the grades the minimum offered
is SIPS, and the maximum is $780,
There is an average increase of about
$500.
"Owatonna will pay $1,000 to col
lege graduates without experience and
$1400 to teachers with three years ex
perience and as high as $3.50 for spe-
cial teachers. A grade teachers SEIZED
; ule has been adopted with the mini
mum fixed at $1,000 and the maximum
at $500.
Sioux City is to have minimum
of $500 and maximum of $21OO
for high school and 1920 to $500 in
the grades.
Austin will pay from $11O0 to $17OC
head of the department in high
schools and from $500 to $1100 in the
grades. All teachers who stay through
the year will receive bonus equal
to five per cent Of their annual sal
airy.
"Faribault will pay from $1,000 to
$1400 in grades one to six; 1888 to
$1,000 in the Junior and Senior high
schools. with $1700 to heads of de-
partments. Men will receive from
$500, mine months). up to $780,
(ten months.)
1T is quite >probable that the state
board of education will fix 5000 as the
minimum to be paid in any graded
school in the state, with $1,000 as the
minimum after teacher has had
two years of experience; $1088 as
the minimum TO a four year college
graduate. with $126s after two years
of experience.
with the Mankato schedule oil
1851 the schedule OF other cities
for next year and the probable stand
ard to be set by the state board as
bases, the accompanying schedule has
been worked out. 1t is believed thai
If this scale is adopted, 1t will en-
able us to keep most of our good in
structors, and to replace the ones
who leave us with first rate rather
than second, or third rate teachers
On the other hand it seems certain
that il any lower scale is used, il
will be impossible to secure or to
Keep the kind OF teachers We should
have.
| applying the schedule to the pres
ent force means "a total increase oy-
er this years salary expenditure OF
! $15,622, divided as follows. 1855 to
principals, assistant principals, sup
ervisors, and special teachers-an av-
erage increase of $283; $S354 to high
school teachers. an average increase
Of 1921; and 1858 to grade teachers
an average increase of $137.
| Under this new schedule Sas pro-
posed all teachers must have had two
years experience before they can
teach here. Grade teachers will start
in Glass G. at "a minimum OF S1,080
fper year and according to merit and
= - - =. - 4