Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-11
NIGHT TEACHERS
ASK PAY INCREASE
zoo Attend Meeting Of Central
High School instructors.
Won't Strike
MANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS

An increase from "a to So a night has
been asked by the night school teachers
OF the Central High School
The decision to seek such an advance
was made at n meeting held last night
attended by more than 200 teachers.
The meeting was only one of many
developments resulting from dissatisfac.
, tion over the present wage scale. II
was learned, however. that none of the
teachers approve of going on strike and
will not countenancc any such sugges.
tios.
As an illustration of the great prob
lens which many teachers have to meet
Miss Margaret Mcguire. principal of
the Mccall School, cited the American
ization work
Miss Mcguire said: Think of the
teacher who has new class of fifty
foreigners twice every year and who
teaches them English as we'll as how
TO read aud write and figure. Then
think of paying that teacher salary
that she can hardly live on. The strug.
gle is becoming too much, and the on Z.
tire system is threatened. 1t is prob
lem for the people AS well as the board
II they object to paying more taxes
let them consider how they would like
90 pay their child : tuition at private
school"
Many school teachers say they will
quit their positions for more remuner
ntive employment unless the Board of
Education provides substantial salaries.
A petition announcing this action was
sent to the Board of Education by
West Philadelphia High School teach q.
crs, and is said 20 represent the senti
ment of high school teachers generally
throughout the city.
At several meetings held last night
IL was agreed that the increase Of salary
on the equalization plan removed an
element Of unfairness in regard to men
and women salaries. II was declared
that this plan was, nevertheless. far
from satisfactory under present con-
ditions.
There was talk of strike at a meet
ing of West Philadelphia High School
teachers. A vote was taken on the
proposed action. but the strike plan
was defeated 81 to 20.
At meetings held in several schools
IL was learned that many teachers re-
ceiving 800 u month under the new
salary schedule have several dependents
and find it impossible to exist on thi,
salary.
Leslie Il. Seely head of the science
department of Germantown Higl
School, who represents fifty teachers il
the council of the High School Men,
Association, today drew comparison
between the financial requirements o
men and women.
There are two issues involved" sale
Mr.. Seely. The first is equalization
which is a social problem of long stand
ing, and the second is relief from eco
nomic pressure due to the present higl
cost of living.
THE available funds of the Board o
Education have been expended in meet
ing the first problem iu way exceeding
the program of the proponents o
equalization, leaving nothing for tn
solution of the economic problem as /
affects the male teacher who is the hca
Of family. The problem now is vii
the board borrow money to adcquatcl
solve the second problem.
The teachers of Germantown Hig
School favor a revision in salaries evcl
in the form of bonus or pc. mancn
addition to the schedule adopted. Th
reason for this attitude is that equal
zation will not meet the demands o
present high cost of living upon tn
salaries of men with families.
Many men in the high school are no
at the top of the high school schedule
They face the cost of education of thei
children, possible sickness and fin,
present salaries inadequate.
with the growth of their children
their expenses increase, while in tn
case of dependencies upon wome
teachers it becomes less.