Evening star., 1920-05-16


paid public school teachers. are de-
Congress soon by leaders of the move
ment to obtain for the teaching per-
sonnel a bonus Of $500 to tide them
over the summer vacation, when they
are not paid. The almost unbeliev-
able conditions which the brief re-
veals were summarized from 1,lo0
replies to questionnatres sent out by
the executive committee of the teach
ers' $500 bonus movement.
A review of the questionnaires
shows that it has been Impossible for
teachers to save for the summer
months out of their small salaries, as
figures specifically point out that last
year 62 212 per cent or the teachers
were receiving a basic salary of $3.50.
These facts also were brought out
In replies to the questionnaires:
That 33 Ia per cent of the teachers
have been obliged to seek outside en-
ployment to keep out of debt; that
72 per cent will return to school art
er the vacation period in September
in debt.
Teachers Replies Quoted.
Appended to the figures were re-
plies of the teachers. of which the
following were selected at random,
which bespeak the financial distress
and anxiety with which teachers are
facing the summer.
II am d grade teacher and was ap-
pointed when the beginning salary
was $500 year. My salary has never
been over S1,100.
BESIDES the increase in the cost of
living of general character. when
has contributed to the extra financial
strain l have had to stand for the last
few years. is the increase caused by
having to help pay for the house we
live in, for we were offered the alter
native of buying or moving. Thousn
the purchase price necessltateo
greater monthly payment than the
former rental. it was less than the
rental in new place would have been,
so we were compelled to purchase the
house. Added to this expense nave
been repairs and increase in taxes
which / have been called upon - fteio
pay.
During the summer OF 1917 and
later in 1918 l secured government
positions, but each time I was obliged
to refuse several positions offered me
under certified civil service examina-
tions because salary would have been
at a rate greater than $4,000 year
combined with my school salary. L
thus refused salaries ranging from
$1,000 TO $1,000 because of this ruling
under personal advice from the con-
troller.
I'm no position would l have re-
ceived actually over $4,000. but only
at rate over that amount. l finally
secured leave of absence in the fall
of 1918 and obtained a special position
in the government for which others
doing like work received Si,6oD, but
which I had to do for an entrance
salary of $1.1O0 in order to comply
with the ruling forbidding teacher
to secure a higher salary than her
school one for a period Of one year.
Resigns school Position.
'In the fall Of 1918. on account of
financial pressure. / resigned my
school position and accepted posi-
tion paying just $500 more than the
school position i would have taken at
that time. Recently l returned to the
school. as I thought that the bill for
salary adjustments for teachers would
pass, which would again enable me to
live on the salary of the profession
for which I was trained. My salary
minus the longevity, Of which l was
deprived because of having resigned
my position in the fall. is now $1.100
a year, not deducting the amount
taken off for retirement fund. This
is $940 less than 1 was drawing in my
other position. To increase my salary
) am teaching at night, thereby re-
ducing this difference from s94O to
$3.50.
when I settle my bills by July. I
Will not have penny left to pay my
expenses from that date until October
!. the earliest date when teachers can
expect to receive their new salaries, I
am able to earn in other ways and
confidently hope to secure some kind
Of work to pay my bills. but l am de-
barred from taking the government
poeition to which l am entitled and
which l am listed on the civil
Lservice register. as l cannot accept a
position paying over 5000 year
without losing my school position. and
the positions offered carry salary of
at least $1,000.
II have always tried to make the
best OF what have and to look upon
the bright side of things but the
struggle to exist and to remain in
the teaching profession has been so
great in the last few years that l
would be glad to pass out of life
rather than to continue the battle, if
II were honorable to do So
Cites Experience OF q Years.
Il have been a teacher for over
twenty-five years. / have an invalid
sister entirely dependent upon me.
Her medfcin and doctors bills are
very large, all of which / must meet
I have been heavily in debt ever since
l have been teaching. / have never
been able to save a cent My eyes
are giving me trouble and j can do
nothing for them. because I cannot
AFFORD to do anything for myself
Last month l was promoted from
class 3 to class in salary which
does not go into effect until next
October. yet they have increased my
substitute fee from SLIP to $3.50
They have deducted a pension fee
which has reduced my salary so per
month ] have had office work during
my vacation for the past two years
and need to rest my eyes l certainly
Will have to borrow money this sum-
mer. am very much in debt and
worried to death by it. II cannot
get some help this summer l will he
forced to get out Of school and go
elsewhere. l love my school and love
my children: but what can do other
wise when living is so high and 1
must support my sister,
Am still paying for my normal
course. Would have to borrow money
for the summer If my father did not
take care of me. which he should not
have to do. Why should a parent
have to give livelihood to a
teacher
Sufferer From Illness.
Have had a severe surgical oper-
Adon and typhoid during the last
year. This has caused me to incur
HSAsy SApSHScS. OH account OF th1S
have returned to school before my
strength warrants it,"
Have taught fifteen years and
have always had an excellent rating.
Am now receiving s1.320 yearly, in
cluding bonus A sister, stenog-
rapher, has averaged $500 more than
]. though she has not had so many
years training"
by putting in as many hours of
work out of school as l do in teach
ing in school l have managed to keep