The Washington herald., 1922-04-04
PLEAD FOR HIGHER
PAY FOR TEACHERS
In CITY'S SCHOOLS
Officials and Citizens Ap-
pear Before Senate
Committee.
CAPITAL RANKS LOW
DR.. Ballou, DR.. Deffenbaugh
And Others Point Out
Handicap.

Better salaries for public school
teachers in the District or a lower
standard. of education
This was the ultimatum by Super
intendent Frank W. Ballou yester-
day in testifylng before the Senate
District Committee.
d. W. Deffenbaugh, public school
expert for the United States Bureau
of Education. after submitting
tables showing Washington to be
forty-fifth in a list Of forty-eight
cities in teachers salaries, admitted
that the salaries paid teachers OF
the District were not adequate 10
hold competent Instructors, nor TO
attract teachers from other cities.
In discussing the Capper bill to
increase the teachers compensation
DIR. Ballou emphasized the neces.
sity of passing this legislation as
means of protecting the next gen.
Grafton.
Forced to Outside Work.
Teachers at the present time
are compelled to instruct in night
schools in order to piece out their
salaries. Thei- income is otherwise
too small to provide the necessities
of life," DR.. Ballou told the com.
mittee. Ninety-four teachers have
been given permission to do other
work after school hours" he said.
He pointed out that this extra
strain on teachers is not conducive
to good work during the day, but
because of inadequate salaries they
had no alternative.
N tho tha
tion is increased teachers would be
able to study during the vacation.
Three hundred and eighty-four
teachers had taken courses last
year, thirteen of whom had received
degrees, the superintendent stated.
The passage of the Capper bill
would bring Washington about
two-thi.ds up the list of cities OF
10000. he said. This statement
was later substantiated by the table
offered by DR.. Deffenbaugh.
Follows 0utworn system.
DR.. Ballou explained the advan-
tages to accrue from a policy that
would pay the maximum salary to
a teacher during the period of
maximum efficiency. Under the
present system a teacher Is ad-
vanced in some cases only SO a
year with a minimum salary of
$1,000.
The committee was told that
Washington Is without an institu-
tion which prepares teachers for
high schools. These instructors are
now supplied by other cities and in
order to entice them to Washing
ton 1t is necessary to offer salaries
commemorative the duties to be
performed. ..>
In one instance twenty-five let
ters were sent to teachers on the
eligible list. Six replies were re-
eeived and but one teacher was
available for duty, DR.. Ballou said.
Other candidates had inquired about
the opportunities in Washington but
upon being informed the minimum
salary was $1,000 had shown no
further interest Another case pre-
sented was that of a principal OF
a high school who was offered an
executive ONCE in Washington.
The maximum salary provided was
s2.7o0. It later developed that the
principal was at that time receiv-
ing $4,000 year in his own city.
Capital ON Downgrade.
DR.. Deffenbaugh presented a table
showing that Washington has con-
tnued to drop down the list OF
cities from 1918 to 1922 Cities pay
ing the same minimum salary as
Washington are 3.6 per cent Of the
other cities of the same population
as Washington. He explained that
over ~ per cent of the cities of
100000 population or over paid
larger minimum salary.
DR.. Deffenbaugh further declared