The Washington herald., 1920-01-08

Unanimity of sentiment for the four
big problems which will be pushed
before Congress at this term to re-
lieve the present stress in the schools
due to low saleries of teachers and
an insufficient number of buildings was
brought out yesterday at a meeting
of the executive committee of the
Citizens School Betterment Commit
tee, the Teachers Council and the
Board of Education
There are differences of opinion re-
,garding certain matters In the school
system and management. but these
will not be injected in the present
movement il it is found that they will
In any way endanger the attainment
of the four big points.
Here are the developments in the
school situation yesterday:
DR.. John Van Schaick, president OF
the Board OF Education, told the ex-
ecutiVe directors of the schools bet
terment movement that the board was
and always has been a supporter OF
the four points named in the plat
form.
The representatives of the teachers
organizations at the Teachers Coun-
ell endorsed the schools betterment
program and voted confidence in the
Board of Education.
Ernest Thurston. superintendent of
schools. told the council, of which the
Board of Education is a member, that
he endorsed the points and endorsed
the stand taken by the board before
the council.
A mass meeting of men teachers of
the white high schools held meet
ing yesterday. passed a resolution
asking the Board of Education to
Immediately ask for an emergency
appropriation providing for an in
crease in the salaries of teachers in
the schools equal to at least 80 per
cent, and to be retroactive from July
I. last.
The resolution, with certain notes,
was presented to the board at the
council meeting by Harry A. Eng
lish. head of the department of mathe-
matics of the high schools. who was
accompanied into the board room
by about fifty male teachers.
After calling attention to the in
creased cost of living. Mr.. English
informed the board that the increases
asked for now will only enable the
teachers to pay their debts. point
ing out tnaJ tne COnulIlOnS dnOHS
the teachers are desperate.
But the outstanding feature of yes
terday's developments was the official
stand taken by the board on the
schools betterment program. made
officially by DIR. Van Schaick to the
Schools Betterment Committee at a
luncheon which ne rendered to them
at the Cosmos Club. and later to
the Teachers Council, when both DR..
Van Schaick and DIR. Fl. C. Learned.
president of tie board. made
known its stand on the problems. =
However, DR.. Van Schaick, at the
council meeting, made it plain that
the Board of Education. as ii at pres
ent stands, will not ask for any in
crease in pay for teachers under the
present system which requires origi-
nal appointment in the lower grades.
1t is the desire to make it possible
where il is believed she will be most
efficient. At the same time DIR. Van
Schaick pointed out that this matter
would not be allowed to interfere
with the schools betterment plans of
the citizens.
This is how the Board of Education
will support the four essentials in
the school problem:
l. Where matters of reorganiza-
tion will help accomplish the four
objects. they will be pushed. .. Where
they will endanger the four points.
they will be delayed. 3. Where they