Evening journal., 1922-04-19

Increase in teachers salaries. esti-
mated at ss5.Ooo. under a merit
schedule agreed upon about three
years ago. started controversy |
which ended in the adoption OF an !
amendment 70 DR.. Washburn's mo- |
ton to adopt the estimate proposed |
by Dr. Banton. that S35. 0o0 be add
ed 10 the estimated budget bring
Ing the total 90 S1.21O.O0O.
Mr. Stradley reported that the
finance committee had loft the
teachers salaries as they were un-
'der the budget for this year. and
suggested a suspension OF the sched-
ule OF increases for period OF one
year. Increases In the teaching
stats at the high school and IN the
elementary schools. he said, had
been provided for IN the salary item.
DR.. Washburn said this would
mean only suspension OF the
schedule and would not wipe Il out
entirely.
/. Superintendent Ward said the
salaries OF teachers IN the Will
mington public schools Is about $50
year below the average. but is
higher than Is being paid in some
cities OF similar size.
DR.. Banton opposed suspension OF
the schedule. The teaching force,
he said. Is about the only decent
thing the system has. for. IN spite
the physical handicaps. the teach
ing staff was turning out good prod
ucts we don't want 10 do any
]
20 destroy the morale OF the teach
Ing force"
George Rommel, ST.. said he ala
not think Il fair 20 eliminate the
schedule He pointed out that while
the teachers are getting fair sal
D aries now. up until few years ago
D they were very inadequate. III
teachers are inefficient he declared,
- tell them so. II a mechanic can't
o do good work. tell him 90. but don'i
cut down the good because OF tbs
y bad"
DR.. Banton said the teachers wer'
entitled 70 the increase under IN
> schedule, mot because OF years o
u service. but because they have quail
- fed themselves and give the pupil
the benefit OF H."
The motion 20 add sS5. 900 10 m
. boards estimated financial need
: was then passed. Mr.. stradley vot
ing against Il.
Doctor Washburn then offered q
: motion that at the same time tbs
q recommendation OF the finance com
y mittee Is presented 10 City Council
a the board request Council 20 au'
= thorize the issuing OF 100000 OF
), bonds.
n He then offered another motor
p that the board proceed with plans
y to erect school building on tbs
n land bounded by DUPONT and Clay
i ton streets and Elm and Under
streets, It being understood tha
these plans may only be consum'
mated when Council authorizes th'
bond issue.
n Doctor Washburn explained that 4
y was his idea 20 have a concrete plaI
to present TO Council when th'
board submits its estimated finan
clal requirements. He suggested
l. that the place 20 make a start In {
e building program should be midway
q between the four school buildings Il
n the southwest section. building
D which are over-crowded az the pres
ent time. The proposed site will
N provide ample Playground he said
T. and the building can be 30 planned
s. and built TO provide for the imme
N diate needs OF the school children
OF that section. The plan, he said
p did not contemplate tearing dow
CO any OF the school buildings at thi
Ia time. The amount OF money in
a. volved IN the purchase OF the site
"a he added, is less than would be re
r oulred for any other site. the build
!, ing would remedy the evils OF con
~ Cestion in one section OF the city
and perhaps there would be enougl
money left TO make a decent star
on another. The motion was carried
The board adopted a resolutio
IN that the School Savings System q
Il Educational Thrift. Service, Inc, q
New York City. represented by {
.. w Clarke, be adopted in the school
=. OF Wilmington. Del. provided IN
= Educational Thrift Service secure
-. local bank 10 act as a deposition
=, thereby guaranteeing no cost what
a. ever to the public schools.
The board received a communities
On ton from City Solicitor Sa
"a terthwaite advising that he was nj
,o yet ready to give an opinion on N
questions recently propounded
a. him by the board relative to n
ss advantages the city would deri'
,ls from coming under the state scho
~ code.
~ The question OF renting properti
,,s or rooms to relieve congestion
the high school and Howard his
school was again raised when
? Banton submitted a report fro
a Professor Wootten. OF the Howa
nh High School. relative TO the nee
~ OF that institution. DR.. Bant
70 pointed out the necessity for mai
90 tanning the standard which has be
reached in the grammar and hi
school grades. The elementa
school grades. he said. were less
OF a problem, but the others we're
,th more serious question In the c.
ia ored than in the white schoo
She Three additional grammar sch,
ow rooms, 90 desks. two teachers
thigh school. two. teachers for graz