Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-19
MINIMUM WAGE Of
sllOo FOR TEACHERS
Instructors in Burlington Schools
Say They Need 1t and Have
Figures Which Tend to Es-
7 tablish Their Chim-Taxpay-
erS to Act March 2

puStRg the next few days before the
March Rneethags the teachers OF Hurting
ton are 20 wake a determined encrt 10
show tho citizens OF Burlington that
Mintmum wage of 81, 100 is necessary FOR
.eAcher to live properly, Through per-
cAal canvass. through meetings OF all
kinds and through such means as are
available. the teachers will present their
case to the citizens
From carefully collected data, brought
together through auestiounaires made out
and signed by overS' teacher IN Burltns-
ton, tho committee OF tho Burlington
Teachers association has compiled figures
to show what Il actually costs II teacher
10 live IN this city. with all expenses
of On extraordinary nature omitted, here
are tho figures. based on a yearly esti-
mate:
Clothing, s24s; board, room and laundry,
s5onb0; physician and dentist, $3.50; books
and periodicals, $1o15; amusements, 81 30;
church ard benevolences, SiSo; dues or
various kinds, $500; average expense OF
travel tout-of-town teachers). s5l.O;
summer school, SIS; teachers convention,
SIC: insurance lowest possible contrtbu-
ton to Vermont State retirement fund,
A3.6; taxes, $500: total. sl.o57.7o.
It Is not possible to include every little
for additional expenses is necessary II
the teacher is to live within her Income.
according to these estimates. 1t is quite
possible that some of the items men
toned above may be Increased. For
example, the expense of Illness may be
much moro than $3.50.
Some people may ask IL 1t is necessary
for the teachers to expend SEAS for cloth
ing The committee offers the following
figures and asks If they are excessive
Winter coat. $40: two winter school
dresses at SIS, totalng $50; two pairs Of
shoes at $40, totaling $40: two pairs Of
rubbers at slips. totaling $3.50; stockings,
six pairs at IL cents, $3.50; two hats Zone
summer and one wintcr). s12; one church
dress Unjust serve for all social purposee).
$50; one spring suit, $50; two waists for
suit, $500; gloves. $500: two thin dresses
bingham and voie). so; underwear, slS:
miscellaneous thair-pirs, shoe -lacings,
ties, etc.), so; total. s24S
When considering the above list, atten-
ton is called By the committee to the
fact that many small articles which are
needed by a teacher. such as wells. dress
accessories, umbrella, etc, have not been
mentioned. The teacher Is required to
dress in a manner beftting her position.
And this means that she must be dressed
we'll during the entire day. while she IS
at her work. This makes the life of her
clothing much shorter than that OF
women who are able to wear poorer
clothing for a part of the day.
Ralph N. Hill, of Z. f. Clarkson & Co..
has made tho statement that he consid-
cred the above list very conservative, and
that the clothes could not possibly be
secured for less.
TAXPAYERS TO VOTE ON QUESTION
OF MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
The following petition was handed tc
Mayor Jackson Monday:
1--WE, the undersigned. legal voters OF
the city of Burlington. hereby petition
you to insert in the warning of the an
nual meeting Of the city to be held or
the first Tuesday in March. 1920, an article
to be voted on by ballot at said meet
ing and reading as follows:
ITO see if the legal voters of the city
will authorize the city council to asses;
for the use of the schools in the said city
In Increasing the salaries of the teachers
and the wages OF employees a tax Of
Is cents on one dollar of the grand lis
for 1920, in addition to the tax provided
by law for the use of schools; and. fur
Their. petition you to have the city CLERK
provide suitable ballots for the voters
on this article at the polling places, ant
suitable means for receiving. counting
and recording the votes of said article;
az In such cases provided by law.
The petition is signed by 30 legal voter:
OF the city and will be acted upon by
the mayor In accordance with the city
charter.