Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-02-04
ASK MORE PAY
Teachers of Newport ask $3.50 Bonus
in Public Statement

In order that the citizens of New
port and of the state, who are follow
ing the outcome of the recent petition
of the teachers of the city of New
port to the school trustees for some
increase in the salary, may secure a
correct understanding of the whole
matter, the committee appointed by
the city teachers wish to make this
public announcement. We feel that
owing to lack of information on the
question of the salary increase many
of this city have formed opinions con-
trary to facts. We therefore publish
an account of the entire relation be-
tween teachers and school trustees
which relation at all times has been
free from anything but courtesy and
good feeling.
After the meeting at Burlington of
the school superintendent and direct
ors of the state, the teachers of New
port met and decided to petition the
trustees for an increase in their sal
aries. Prin. Pierce was asked to pre-
sent the teachers petition to the
board which was done at the first
meeting. Prin. Pierce explained the
standing of the teachers as public ser
wants and considered the teachers pro-
fession in general. Data was given
of the teaching profession in differ
ent parts of the United States in
general and New England and YER
mont in particular. 1t was explained
that the present wage paid teachers
was not living wage and asked that
the board endeavor to help thu teach
ers In this emergency. The reso-
lutions adopted at Burlington which
were expressions of Vermont senti-
ment were to increase the salary of
Vermont teachers 500 over that paid
in 1916. Prin Pierce stated that the
teachers believed that a bonus of
$3.50 would fairly approximate the adj
vance advocated at the Burlington
meeting. In making this petition it
was carefully explained to the trus-
tees that this petition was not a de-
mand, that the meeting and petition
was not in the nature of strike and
that whatever decision the trustees
might make in regard to the problem
the teachers would go on with their
work as efficiently as before.
At the suggestion of the trustees
a committee of four from the teach
ers was selected and now constitute
the teachers committee whose names
are here appended. This committee
met the trustees for the first time on
Saturday, Jan. 10, and further dis
cussed the many problems relative to
the proposed bonus. At the sugges-
ton of the trustees the teachers COM
mittee was to call a meeting of the
city teachers to determine the best
offer the teachers could make relative
to salary increase. This meeting
duly called instructed the committee
to inform the trustees that they had
no offer to make, that in the original
petition it was explained that the
teachers suggested as a solution that
no demand had been made upon the
trustees, that the matter lay entire
ly in their hands whether $3.50 should
be granted, smaller amount or none
at ALL In short the committe was
instructed to restate as in the original
petition that the teachers needed
help financially on the same sense
of square dealing as is being mani.
tested all over the country, and New
England particularly, whereby mater
ial assistance is being granted to the
public school teachers in their pre-
sent emergency.
These instructions were communi.
Gated to the trustees and that is where
the matter now rests. Tie feeling
between the trustees and teachers has
been and is cordial and sympathetic
all approaching the present condition
of affairs and anxious that some sol
ution of the problem can be made
We representing the teachers of tn,
city schools hope that this Statement
may present to all an understanding
Of the part played by the teacher.
relative to an increase in salary ant
correct some impressions that the cit
liens of the city may have had.
Mrs. Frank Patterson
Hazel Gates
Mrs Addie Buck
Hubert S. Pierce