Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-29
AID FOR TEACHERS
URGED AT MEETING
Big Crowd OverfIows Academy.
Resolution Passed Asking
$40 Monthly Increase
SPR0UL AND MOORE THERE

An enthusiastic. determined crowd
filed the Academy Of Music last night
and overflowed into the street, consti-
tuting one Of the biggest meetings ever
held In this city.
They were citizens and educators who
had come to demand IN immediate in
crease in pay for teachers in the pub
lie schools in order that Philadel-
phia might be able now and In the III =
teacher markets of this country and
procure and retain the most capable
teachers for its children.
Speeches in vigorous language from,
prominent men. eulogies for school
teachers and members of the Board OF
Education, individually aud collectively
were delivered. For q while IL looked az
though the meeting had been called to
discuss nearly every subject under the
sun except teachers salaries. Oratory
dealing with presidential candidates
high cost of living, the salaries Of po.
licemen and fremen, newspapers and
publishing houses seemed to be in order
Resolution Passed
But eventually, through n speech OF
George Wharton Pepper. the audi
ence was turned back to its chief
purpose. A resolution was passed ia
voring a fat increase in teachers sala =
ries Of $40 a month dating from Janu :
ary /, 1920, and the appointment OF
a committee OF five citizens to confer
with the Board Of Education to make
the resolution effective.
Edward Box. chairman Of the citi-
zens' committee which arranged the
meeting, presided, and the speakers in
cluded Governor Sproul, Mayor Moore
DR.. Thomas q. Finegan, state superin
tendent Of instruction: Mr.. Pepper
principal Of the Mccall School, anc
Joseph II. Hagedorn. Some of thes,
speakers and others addressed three
overflow meetings.
You may rest assured that thes'
resolutions will not go the usual way
of resolutions-that Is, into the waste
paper basket. These resolutions will b,
acted upon" said Mr.. Box.
Another notable feature Of the meet
ing was the reading by Mr.. Box Of al
official statement which he had just re
ceived from the State Treasury De
partment at Harrisburg, saying that th'
department. before the end of tn
month. will pay the full balance du
the Philadelphia Board of Education
for salary increases for the fiscal year
A much applauded high light in Gov
ernor Sprouts address was pledge tina
he will Eight for further increase o
80 per cent in the state appropriation
for education at the next session of th
Legislature The last session increased
or from S1S. 900, 900 to S24. 900. 900. I
the Governor makes good his pledge
l that amount Will be raised t.
J S36 600 900.
Until 10: 80 o'clock a peaceful
friendly atmosphere pervaded the meet
ing, as IL the speakers and audience ha,
\ taken to heart the words of Mr.. Box
J who had said in bis opening address:
LET us discuss these problems with
out heat. What we need is not heat
! but light"
An abundance of heat. however, wa
injected into the proceedings when Mr.
Pepper, his frame and voice tremblin
with anger. criticized Mayor Moore TO
discussing everything except educa
ton
= The Mayor in thirty minute ad
dress had made many digressiops. Jest
ing with the Governor. talking abou
the contracts for the South street bridg
/
+ crease in wages for the police and fire
:. men. who. he said. did not receive a
:. higher grades" These depression
II evoked some distinct rumblings Of dis
a content in the audience. The speaker
Z had been allowed ten minutes each b
Il the chairman.
d The Mayors address was followed b
$ that of Doctor Finegan, who said
d would talk only five minutes and max
4 it point to bring the meeting back t
!, the purpose for which it was called.
That statement was greeted with ap
:, plause.
: Mr.. Box then. as permanent chair
p man. made short address. He pointo
gravely to the situation facing the cit
r today in the constantly increasiu
e shortage of teachers.
{ There are today 10000 children o
y part time and half time in the schoo
. less than six months of schooling %
year The state law requires sevc
e months for the rural districts. SO as
e result we are giving even less than Ii
. law requires.
. "What is going to happen in OF
4 country twenty years from now dcpenC
, entirely on what happens in our schoo
today. The children now in o.
, public schools are those who will be re
r. quired TO carry out our great project
cannot expect to have ADEQUATE cit
zens. -.
mei Ne, ,hS Cic'@ens oi LennsElVan
auu niIaue.pn.a, at' " pi"Iie ior al
lnaueqaaci tna ,na' as;i Gi e~as.; W. arc =, :,
nun m1 adu rI"oa,io ,TU tG' 'G"s.nseu. st