The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
SCHOOL TEACHERS
OBJECT TO CIVIL
SERVICE STATUS
ASK Congress to Remove
Them From Inclusion
In Lehlbach Bill.


unanimous action OF the federated
eommittees Of the teachers unions.
Yesterday asked members of the
house Of Representatives to- remove
them from inclusion in the Lehlbach
naturalization bill
No provisions are made in the
LehIbach bill for the teachers. and
they do not care to be placed under
civil Service regime, the teachers
declare IN letter sent TO each
me mber of Congress yesterday. The
letter contains a resolution adopted
b. the federated committee and au-
thorizcd by the unanimous vote OF
the High School Teachers Union
the Grade Teachers Union and Prin-
cipals' Union of the District schools
system Would suffer.
In speaking of the action of the
teachers last night Mrs. Edith c
Paul. president OF the High school,
Teachers Union said:
Teachers were not included in
the original bill. but. by a motion
Of Representative Begg. of Ohio
Section Of the bill which e1-
Guides teachers, was stricken out.
The teachers believe that Repre-
sentative Begg generously desired
To secure for the teachers OF wash
ington the increase in salaries that
is everywhere Acknowledged to be
due them. But the unanimous opin-
ion of officials and teachers. after
careful study. is that the school
system as a whole would suffer
from being cut off from other
school systems of the United states
and by being governed by pro-
visions made primarily for workers
In such very different fields as
those Of the government services.
As there is no provision for
teachers in the Lehlbach bill and
as there is great uncertainty how
teachers would be classified and
their salary status determined, no
assurance is felt that professional
COnd itionS and salaries would be
improved by inclusion in the Lehi-
bacu bill.
The public schools Of Washing
ton exist to serve the community
This purpose can best be secured
by preserving the schools as a sep
arate entity and by retaining the
present local and democratic or
sanitation under the superintendent
and the board of education.
Has Been Generous.
Congress in the past has always
been generous to the public schools
Of the District. Senator Capper'S
committee is evincing a most sym
pathetic and capable interest in its
present survey OF the schools. Tt
this committee and to the Appropri.
lion Committee the school system
looks with confidence for improve.
mCnt in salaries as well as in ma
terjaI equipment for the schools.
For these reasons. the Teachers
Unions Of Washington are asking
i'm behalf Of the school system. that
the teachers be withdrawn from the
LehlbaCh bill"
The resolution adopted and sent
To members Of Congress reads:
Whereas: BY motion of Repre-.
sentative BegE. of Ohio, sustained
by vote OF the House. the clause ex-
Guiding teachers from Federal re-
classification has been struck out
and
Whereas: Such action is contrary
20 the wishes of the teachers, ex-
and
Whereas: We feel that our demo-
cratic organization. under a Board
OF Education. and our tenure OF
office are Threatened. and
Whereas: There is no provision
for teachers in the Lehlbach bill
and it is too uncertain how they
would be classified. and
Whereas: Inclusion under Civil
Service. ALLEGATION of positions by
bureau chief. and the system OF
rating. as provided for Federal en-
plOyees seem impossible to adjust
to fit the schol personnel. and
seems Most Unwise.
Whereas: The permanent fixing OF
salaries for teachers. In connection
with salaries Of employees whose
salary status Is less changeable
seems most unwise. in view of the
upward trend of school salaries
and
Whereas: 1t is the desire of the
officials and teachers to preserve the
schools as a separate entity. or
Ganized under a Board Of Educa-
ton. similar to other schools Of the
United States. and
Whereas. We trust that the Con-
cress of the United States will
heartily support the new bill to be
presented by the Board of Educa
tion at an early date which will
preserve the organic act OF 1906
incrcas" salaries. and provide all
necessary physical equipment for
our rapidly growing school system
Therefore: We respectfully re-
quest that Congress vote to strike
out the amendment to the Lehlbach
bin which includes teachers in the
classification To this end a copy
81 these resolutions shall he sent to
zach member Of the House OF Rep
rescutativcs.