Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-24
$1,000 MINIMUM
WAGE IN GRADES
CONFERENCE OF. SCHOOL OF
FiclALs AGREE UPON BET
TER PAY FOR TEACHERS.
FIX MINIMUM IN HIGH
SCHOOLS At $500
Heated Discussion Results Because
Of Discrimination Between Teach
ers in Grades and High Schools
Who Possess Same Qualifications
Grade Teachers Sighted.

Des Moines, March ga min
imum of $1,000 year for qualified
grade teachers and $500 for high
school teachers was recommended
yesterday at a meeting Of members
OF boards Of education OF Iowa cities
Of the first class, representatives OF
the state education department and
superintendent.
A bill was also drawn up, TO be
presented at the next legislation, rec
ommendlng that the $50 per pupil
limit now fixed for the general fund
shaIl be raised to 500. The legisla-
tive relief committee, composed OF
Earl Mills, Des Moines, chairman; c.
A. Halsell, Fort Dodge. and H. Z,
Blackmar. Ottumwa, will be continu-
ed until the bill has passed the leg
islature.
A representative Of the school
board of every city OF the first class
was added 10 the legislative commit
tee after the bill had been drawn up
Keen Interest Shown.
Interest greatly in excess of that
usually accorded school conferences
was given this little one day confer
ence. attended by only twenty-seVen
men and women. because this is the
first time IN the history OF Iowa, per-
haps IN the history Of the country
that the three groups concerned have
come toyetfi57 cor q discussion or
school problems
The school directors who were
present, practically all Of them busi-
ness men or lawyers, SHOWED as
much enthusiasm IN higher salaries
as the superintendent. The only dls-
agreement was on methods OF DIS
tribution. y
There was little discussion OF any
proposal other than the minimum
wage suggestion. Assistant Superln-
+endent Studebaker, OF Des Moines'
led a Asht to have the words "ele-
mentarv- and high school, teach
or. stricken from the text. on the
ground that a grade teacher with the
aeeree Of bachelor Of arts or sciences
should have the same salary consio-
GRAFTON as a high school teacher OF
the same training.
Says Grades Sighted.
I'VE have been sighting ene
o,-aae schools In favor of the high
schools" he said. Yet the elemen-
tarv work Is rust as important as the
him school, If not more so. ano
should be prepared for as thorough
lily
The majority OF those present ap-
peared to agree with Mr.. Studebakel
that the salary distinction between
grade and high school teachers was
u,adyised but felt that 1t was
wiser to follow tradition at this
time. It was plainly the sentiment OF
the assembly that where the train
ing Of a grade teacher was equal 70
! that of a high school teacher, the
| board should make reco gnttton OF the
fact in setting her salary.
Urged 81 800 Minimum.
l. II. Minkel, superintendent al
Fort Dodge, who has been voted
salary Of $4,000 for next year. was
leader Of a movern emit to raise thu
minimum for 1920 to $1,000. Op.
position to his motion was baset
upon the fact that several OF the
boards represented said that theil
cities were unable to pay that mucf
and that AS the recommendation
was to be presented for Legislative
epactm emit, 1T would be better to III
sum all could pay.
Men from number Of cities, how
ever. stressed the fact that 1t woult
be necessary for them 10 raise theiI
minimum If they expect to keep siou1
City from getting all the good teach
ers.
Promotion on Merit.
The resolution as adopted recon-
nended that "the minimum salar,
for elementary teachers having TIVE
years training beyond the four
year high school course, and TIVE
years Of successful teaching exper
fence shall be $1,000, 70 be paid II
twelve monthly ingtallments; that thu
minimum salary for high schoo
teachers having four years training
beyond the high school course ant
two years successful teaching ex'
perience shall be $500. to be payet
in twelve monthly installments.'
Advancement is 70 be based upoI
merit. It win be left to the individual
boards to pay as high minimum a.
Lis necessary to keep the teachers the3
wish to retain.
The "pay in twelve monthly In.
! etc IL. o..-r cln-se !s e~nAntHh II
take care Of the oft repeated com.
plant that the teachers have no In.
come for three months OF the year
The conference voted to hold al
annual meeting. The officers electt
yesterday. c. A. Haalsell Of For
Dodge and Charles =. Pye Of De-
Moiues, Will hold over and arrange