Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-24
HIGHER SALARIES
Sought by Teachers in
Capital City

Present Time Out Of Question -
Beard Of Education to Nest Teach.
srs Soon in Effort to Adjust Cues
ton
Stating that it would be impossible
at this time to pay the school teach
ers of the city the advance IL salary
which be understands they viii de-
manc. H H Stuart. superintendent
Of schools, addressed the teachers
late yesterday afternoon at a meet
ing held in Cory High school Mr..
Stuart called the meeting after re-
ceiving the information that 4 petit
ton asking for nat salary increase
Of $500 was being circulated among
the school teachers Of Augusta
Mr.. Stuart in the course OF his talk
argued that in his estimation II WIS
not possible at present TO aceede to
the probable demands Of the petition.
his belief being based on the grounds
that the budget for the teachers SAL
80 80 90 49, %SA&A-~>5 -S0A '" 10 AA06-
Up in April. the month In which the
school year begins. and as the money
must be obtained by taxation il is
impossible at this time to raise the
necessary funds II is understood
tha. a clause in the petition requests
that the increase take effect Janu-
any LIST, 1920.
He explained that If TIE teachers
are granted the $500 increase Au-
gusta would be obliged TO pay near
iy as much AZ the average paid in 20
Of the largest cities in Nassachu-
sets and it has not been customary
for the cities Of Maine to pay as
much as Massachusetts for their
school teachers
Mr.. Stuart remarked that he dis
approved of the fat increase, stat
ing that II would put all good and
poor teachers on a level, also stat
ing that he thought a 500 raise
was too much for the grade teach
ers. He further remarked that it was
very poor taste for the teachers who
had only been teaching in this city
for four months to sign the petition.
However, he explained that he had
called the teachers together regard
ing this increase although neither
he nor the school board knew any
facts beyond hearsay. He hoped the
petition would not b presented blu,
il it vas be would do al in his power
toward the furthurance OF its de-
ulands even though he now thinks
It will be impossible to grant them
at present.
Supt. Stuart and Mr.. Hewins OF
the school board were interviewed
last evening By 4 Journal reporter
and issued the following statement:
The meeting Friday was called
became II had been reported that a
petition was circulating amons the
teachers for an increase Of $500 SAL
AZ.
The only question IL "a to wheth-
er the Board Of Education is in a
position to grant any marked in
crease In salaries at the present
time. owing to the far: that in
creases granted during the past year
we're substantial and used practi-
caIIy all the funds provided by last
years budget for teacfiers' salaries
that any further increases must nee
osRSfly cause an over draft The
Board Of Education realizes that ow-
Ing to the high cost Of living that
the teachers are somewhat underpaid
At their regular meeting in Ianu-
airy there was appointed commit
tee to Investigate the matter Of
teachers salaries and report az to
what In their opinion should be
adopted ast he salary schedule for
the coming year. 1t is probable that
sometime within two or three weeks
the Board Of Education will 90 over
the question with a committee from