Evening star., 1920-02-07
SCHOOL WORKERS
EMERGENCY BILL
SENT TO CONGRESS
Measure Provides Pay In.
creases Ranging From
rs to so Per Cent.

70 to 80 Per Cent.
The board of education measure
providing an emergency increase OF
pay for all public school employees
was sent to the legislative commit
tees of Congress today by the Dis
trict Commissioners.
The bill was drawn up after series
of conferences between the board
the Commissioners and members OF
the salary subcommittee of the Ma
tional Capital School Betterment
Council during the last five weeks.
Three Glasses of Salaries.
1t provides for three classes of SAL
aries for teachers-A. B and c. Glass
teachers 16s special teachers and 10
librarians, total of 1,64l individuals.
The bill provides for a basic salary
of $500 for class A. with an annual
increase of 800 per year for five
years. until a maximum of $4,000 is
reached. individuals now classified
therein have minimum salaries rang
ing from $3.50 to 81, 900 and maximum
salaries ranging from $3.50 to $1.400.
Class B consists of teachers in
normal, high. manual training high
and junior high schools. and princi-
3
schools, group principals of the grade
schools. and other teachers and Ii
brarians promoted from class A. 1t
includes approximately 331 individ-
uals as schools are now organized.
This bill provides for class B basic
salary of $4,000. with an annual in
crease of 500 for ten years. or until
a maximum of 81, 1000 is reached. Pres
ct salaries of teachers in this class
range from $1,000 to $1.S60.
Class G consists of teachers pro-
NOTED for superior work. Under
present law these teachers are classi-
fed as group B teachers and number
twenty -eight.
Provisions for Clerks and Others.
In addition to the teaching force
the bill provides for clerks. class D,
mum and an annual increase of $1GU
per annum fGr four years until a
maximum of $1,000 is reached. There
are thirty eight clerks at present.
The bill then deals with admins
trative officers. medical force. jan
itorS. matronS and caretakers.
Present salaries of individuals af-
fected by this bill amount to $2,716,-
705 a year. The appropriation need
ed for the. present fiscal year in case
this bill became law would be ap-
proximately $497,132.50.
Incfeases In Appropriations.
Increases in school appropriations
involved in the bill were analysed as
follows:
To place all individuals at minimum
salary of their respective classes
Ss43,6s5 per annum.
To place all at maximum salary ct
per annunn, a situa-
tion which would not occur.
To classify. and place as provided in.
this bill--$ss4.265. r@
Letters Froa beard.
In support of these changes the
board Of education sent letter of
the Commissioners and Congress to
the following considerations:
Il. Public school education in the
District of Columbia and throughout
the country faces a shortage of teach
ers and a consequent lowering OF
standards required of teachers The
efficiency of free government depends
largely on the output Of the public
schools. We cannot guarantee the
output unless we stop the exodus OF
the brightest and best teachers from
the profession. The National Educa.
ton Association shows that out OF
2S2,537 positions recently studied. ga
563 teachers had left the service in
the last year. a loss Of 20.7S per cent.
Once diverted from teaching they will
not come back.
"2. Teachers now in the service are
suffering on the salaries they draw.
of other employees are in
similar condition. 1t is worse for the
to have teachers UNDER
paid then almost any other class o.
government employees because inevi-
tably the quality of their work is af-
fected and that work relates to citi-
Harassed by creditors. wor-
- to olx MD
afford lectures, concerts, books. maga-
zines and other things of culture
they can't measure up to their highest
standard.
Speaks to Entire Nation.
"3. Congress dealing with the sub
ject Of education in the District of
Columbia. speaks authoritatively on
this subject to the entire United
States. Recognizing here the value Of
gives a powerful impulse to higher
standards throughout the country.
The great war. the draft act and
the figures on flliteracy justify lay
ing emphasis on the relationship
school salaries here bear to school
This act does not attempt to reor-
ganize the schools. But in this pro-
posed legislation we meet several Sc
rious conditions as follows:
II. The bill abOljSheS present sal
ary classes in grade schools and pro-
notes elasticity in assignment so
that teachers especially adapted to
primary work can be put and kept
there.
"2. 1t let's active, aspiring. qualified
grade teachers secure salary of high
school level without leaving grade
work.
Business Manager for schools.
49, 1t creates a business manager
for the schools.
"The board has not fixed the SAL
aries in the bill on the basis Of war
conditions. 1t believes the salaries
are just under normal conditions.
"If the board considered nothing
but fairness to the teachers and other
employees Of the school system. it
would ask to have the war bonus
carried in addition to other salary
increases recommended.
But in view of the general financial
situation and the sacrifice demanded
of everybody to help pay for the war
the board has not included the war
bonus in the bill.
"If Congress feels warranted in con-
tinuing the war bonus during the
period Of abnormal conditions the
board will heartily favor that action
And it suggests that representatives
NJ the teachers themselves be heard
on this matter before final action"
Text of Measure.
The full text of the measure follows
An act to fix the salaries OF teach
ers, school officers and other en-
pioyes of the board of education Of
the District OF Columbia, and for
D. ~ enacted by the Senate and the