Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-29

school system had made great strides In
buildings and the ability Of the teach
ing force since the separation OF schools
from city administration In 1911.
II want to see the teachers happy,
contented and better paid than they are,
so that they, unhampered, will be able to
do the great work Of Americanizing
young America" he said.
III we can only get the people OF
Philadelphia to keep politically red
blooded after the elections we may get
a little more intelligent action from the
Legislature in Harrisburg than we have
had last year.
Then followed Doctor Finegan.
After his first statement that he
would only speak five minutes and
bring the meeting back to its subject,
Doctor Finegan said:
Educators Being Humiliated
81 look upon IL as a humiliation to
your teachers that they should be COM
PEELED to leave their school rooms and
come to Harrisburg to lobby with the
legislators.
Next winter when the Legislature is
convened, the teachers of the commuDi-
ty.--the AZ, 900 public seryauts employed
10 the commonwealth, will remain in
|
come to Harrisburg and tell the Legisla-
turt and the Governor Of the needs Of
the school teachers.
"A clerk In my ofliee today placed
record in my hands which shows
that in the city Of Pittsburgh, in 1915.
| III teachers either resigned or asked
for leave Of absence In order to take
other positions In 1917, III made like
requests; in 1918, 241, and in 1910.
3OS. In other words, the teaching force
was decreased 8 per cent In 1917; Z
per cent in 1918, and 9.3 per cent In
1910. a..
"In answer to a QUESTIONABLE which
I sent out ] found that $4,000 young
men and women will graduate from the
high schools Of the state this year. Oi
that number only 1900 have signified
their intention of becoming teachers.
| 1t was the determined position that
Mr.. Pepper took in bringing the meet
ing back to strictly business that won
the house. He fairly shouted at the
audience his intention to get them to
consider definitely the subject of the
evening.
"I think Mr.. Finegan did a service
in calling attention to the fact that we
are here this evening to discuss an in
crease in salary for teachers. am in =
terested In the discussion, of course, be.
tween the Governor and the Mayor about
who discovered Mr.. Box; am inter
ested in securing adequate pay for pc.
licemen and firemen am interested IN
the new South street bridge; but the
thing nearest my heart Is the educa
tional crisis In the city OF Philadel.
phia. And when anybody tells us that
the pay of policemen and firemen ha.
not yet been raised to the standard ol
the best paid teachers, then / say thai
while he has proper conception OF wha
, is justice for policemen and firemen
he has no adequate conception OF whai
is justice for teachers"
II hope that before this meeting ad'
journs some practical man will present
resolutions as to how we shall give ex
! preston to our good impulses: IL W.
, are going to pay more money to th'
. teachers, the money must come iron
! somewhere. =,
"We must admit that ahead of al
things comes the matter of the educa
tional welfare and interest of this com
munity.
Now the question of questions is
, whether the board of public education
| is justified in making great venture
of faith and providing the funds neces
sary to tide us over this great nccessit,
by presuming on an increase in taxa
tion.
Urges Naming Of Committee
"We must pass a resolution practica
| and definite and aiming only at the at
tainable. / hope that in some way
committee or similar body may b
created--one that will stay with thi
movement until we have obtained ou
object.
} "Philadelphians and Pennsylvanian
have been shamefully contented to b
classed as fifth raters in education
There is no reason why they should nc
: be classed as first raters. Remembe
this is not movement that affects onl
the welfare of the schools---it is mat
, ter of civic pride.
"The booster Is often public nuis
ance and his talk Is often only empt,
boasting unless his boasts are mad
good by the public spirit of the people
Il see from this meeting tonight this
: we are entering on new era-that 20
who are present are here to see ths
from this time on the best will be nor
, too good for Philadelphia.
Gives Pepper Ovation
The audience rose, shouted whistle
E and yelled its appreciat tion of Mr.. Pep
e per's remarks. That's the best speec
OF the evening" came clearly from tn
gallery and the cheering was renewed
Then followed the presentation of tn
resolution prepared by the citizens com
d, mittec asking for the $40 month in
d crease. the citizens committee OF hH
y to confer with the Board Of Educs
& ton and three suggested methods b
yhich the money could be obtained
n financing repairs by bonds and apply
s ing the current funds to the salary In
9 crease, the use of temporary loan mone
r and to secure from the state the funt
n still owing.
a Throughout the meeting every efo
Q was used to give the Board of Educa
tion full credit for it's efforts in tryir
r to solve the situation. The resolutio
Is again returns the problem to the boar
Is but gives them support for whatev'
r emergency measures it may be cor
10 sidercd expedient to adopt in order
:. increase the salaries.
o Miss Mcguire, who was the fir
!. sneaker, told Of the actual needs OF Il
teachers as seen by one who daily supel
n vises their work.
y LET us think for minute" 81
20 said, "just what public duty the teacl
10 ers perform. Will you picture the clas
Is rooms at 8 o'clock in any morning? ca
lcr you see the thousands OF little 70
d taking their seats ready for trainin
At inspiration and leadership? And y
we force these men and women, woI
nj out by their years work, to labor Z
summer at some temporary position
= order to make enough money to &
7 through the year.