The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-02-12

Teachers of the city schools ham
barded the Board of Education at it's
regular meeting on Tuesday evening
and with thorough organization back
ing them made a demand on the board
Tor increased pay. The teachers show
ed that an increase in pay was neees-
sary if the teachers of the city schools
are to remain in Kenosha and paw the
living costs which are demanded here.
They showed that the present wave
scale, even with recent advances. was
insufficient to meet their demands or TO
compare with the scale Of pay being
given q. stheF LAS &c this and sur
roun1ing tates Iass demanded al
increase of thirty-i:ve per cent for all
teachers in the school over the scale
fixed at the beginning of the new school
year In September of 1919 with the
understanding that the new scale will
be effective as of February 2, 1920.
In addition the teachers suggested
that teacher should have a hundred
dollars added to his or her salary for
each five years in service in the
schools of the city.
No Suggestion of Strike.
Seyenty-fve of the teachers Of the
schools were present at the meeting of
the board to back the demand for
higher salaries. 1t was shown that A
thorough organization had been formed
among the teachers of the city and that
several meetings had been held in which
they had carefully considered condi-
tlons IN Kenosha and other cities rela-
tive to the pay of the teachers. They
have compiled figures showing that Ke-
nosha is not paying her teachers a. wage
sufficient to meet the demands of the
times and a salary which will make it
attractive for good teachers to remain
in the schools of the city. There was
no suggestion on the part Of the teach
ers Of strike. They came before the
board with business proposition and
it was presented in business manner
by Miss Kathrine Byrne of the Frank
school, who was named as chairman Of
the committee 1t was not "sprungV
on the officials The action of the
teachers had been laid before the SUD-
on last Saturday.
Board Has Granted Some Increase.
The Board of Education has already
granted some increase to the teachers
over the salaries offered with the opens
ing of the school year and at the meet
ing of the board on Tuesday night the
committee had report ready which
provided for slight increases on the
part of some of the teachers, particu-
larly those whose pay was under eighty
dollars month. This report of the
committee was held in allegiance pend
ing the consideration Of the new de-
mand made by the teachers. 4 confer
ence between the teachers and members
of the board meeting as committee Of
the whole is to be held on the evening
of March End at which time the mat
ter will be taken up and fully consid~
cred. The demand of the teachers at
the present time would mean an In
crease in present salaries of about
twenty-five per cent.
The attitude of school leaders all
over the state is in support of the de-
mand Of the teachers. Local education
al leaders have recognized for some
time that it is going to be impossible
to hold the teachers in Kenosha IL
less provision for higher pay is made
and made at once.
Salaries Lower Than Clerks
In many cases the salaries paid the
teachers of the city schools are lower
than the salaries paid to clerks and
in. the various business
houses of the city and 3 is admitted
that the teachers here feel that they
are not getting the pay that they should
get. Between now and the special
meeting of the board on March End, the