Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-06
SAY IMMEDIATE
INCREASE AND
BONUS NEEDED
Committees Tell Superintend-
ent Graft They Will Insist
on New Scale.
SET CONTRACTS JUNE 1

6dCQeTS OI luOldudpOlIo, IuIOuSA
committees of the Federation of Pub
lie School Teachers, today asked the
school city to grant immediate relief
from the burden of low salaries and
to make readjustments in the salary
schedule proposed for teachers for
the school year of 1920-21.
The requests included $500 as addi-
tional pay, or bonus, in addition TO the
amounts received in the present years
contracts. The four points in the teach
ers' demands are that:
1. All teachers who have taught
eight years or more shall receive the
maximum salary for the year 1926
1921.
?. All teachers who taught less
than eight years shall receive the
salary according to the years OF
service in accordance with the salary
schedule.
8. Contracts shall be given to
teachers for the year 1920-I921 by
June 1, 1920. or that teachers shall
have the positive assurance of their
salary schedule for the year 1929
1921.
1e19-192O be given each teacher In the
Indianapolis public school by the
close of the present school year.
Superintendent E. Q. Graf, who repre-
sented the school city in the conference,
agreed to the first two requests made
by the teachers with slight modification.
IL Is understood. He told them that ths
$500 additional pay, or bonus, for this
year, could not be granted because of
the financial condition of the school city.
and agreed that contracts for next year
would be rendered to the teachers on
April 1, instead of in July or August, as
in many forr;er years.
TO INSIST UPON
RELIEF THIS YEAR.
The conference was satisfactory In
spirit. both to Mr.. Graff and the teach
ers' committees, but the teachers viii
insist that the school city find some way
to obtain money so that relief can be
granted them during the present school
year,
Representing the federation were Miss
Elsa Huebner, chairman, and the exec
utive committee Of the federation; the
salary committee. Of which Miss Grace.
Turner is chairman, and the Judiciary
committee, Of which Homer L. Knight
is chairman.
The average salary of the grade school
teachers Of Indianapolis is s.. .OS7 for ten
months, no pay being given during the
two months vacation, according to in
formation presented at the conference.
The highest salary to teachers in the
grades, excepting principals, is S1.30O.
and the lowest is $500 There are s45
grade school teachers in the city, S54 of
whom receive less than S1,050 for zen
months teaching.
The salary schedule adopted last year
by the board Of school commissioners
was made in good faith. but has proved
Unequal to the advance in the cost Of
living, the teachers said
It was pointed out that only 20s
teachers receive 81 800 a year. the high
est salary of q grade teacher The
maximum is $1,000 a year OF the s45
teachers there are III who have taught
eight years or more. for whom the maxi
mum Is asked.
CRAFT FIGURES on
MAXIMUM OF 81 800.
superintendent Graf, it is understood
told the teachers that he would make
the maximum salary 81 500 per year. and
that the salary schedule already adopt
ed for next year is null and void.
In telling the teachers that next years
contracts would be delivered on April
], Supt- Graff said he wanted the teach
erS 20 agree that there would be no
designations except on thirty days no
tice. This the teachers agreed to.
Explaining the financial condition Of
the schools, the superintendent told the
teachers that the school city is facing
a deficit Of $125OO0 for the present year.
IL the PROPOSED special session Of the
legislature is called be said the school
city might ask for financial relief from
that body. The representatives oof The
teachers were not satisfied with the ex-
planation of the finances of the city.
feeling, they said. that they had borns
heavy burden In the low salaries. ana
that unless immediate relief is granted
many teachers will be in serious financial
straits during the summer vacation.
DEMANDS BELIEVED
TO BE UNANIMOUS.
Although the representatives of the
federation met and were received in cor
dial spirit, It is understood that the fed
Grafton represents the unanimous de-
mands of the teachers and viii vigor-
ously insist upon relief mea asures.
superintendent Graft, after the con
ference, said that he was quite in accord
with the request of the teachers that con-
tracts be sent out for signatures earlier
this year than last
In regard to the possibility of a bonus,
the superintendent said: "I simply
made he saemen, ha here was no money
for such a purpose"
He said hat the conference was marked
by the spirit Of trying to arrive at bet
ter things FOR the indianapolis schools.