Evening star., 1923-01-03
TEACHER PAY BILL
ASSAILED AS YOKE
Makes Superintendent Gar
Over Tutors and Even
Board, Says G. A. Ward.
BALL0U MAKES PLEA
Sharp Debate Before Columbia
Heights Citizens Followed by
Endorsement.
BALL0U MAKES PLEl

An impromptu debate on the
teachers salary bill was staged by
George A. Ward, chairman of the
law and legislation committee, and
DR.. Frank w. BalIou, superintendent
of schools, at the meeting of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton at st. Stephens Hall last night.
DR.. Ballou defended the bill, fol-
lowing report by Mr.. Ward, in
which the latter charged that the in
crcases proposed for teachers in the
bill are entirely out of proportion to
the increases proposed for school
officials. MIR. Ward said that the
superintendent of schools would get
a 6623 per cent increase in salary,
under the bill.
If this bill goes through, they
should place over the doors of the
schools, so that all teachers might
see: All who enter here, leave hope
behind. declared Mr.. Ward. He said
that the phraseology of the bill. par
ticularly the words upon recon-
mendation of the superintendent of
schools, would make the board of
education completely subservient to
the will of the superintendent. He
moved that such wording be stricken
out of the bill wherever 1t appears.
Prepared Speech Unread.
DR.. Ballou argued for the bill, leav-
ing unread a written speech he had
prepared for the occasion. The super
lntendent of schools told the members
or the association that you are get
ting in your schools today much less
adequately prepared teachers than
YOU got year ago" and stated that
II sentiment is divided it would
Jeopardlze the passage of the bill
now before Congress. He declared
that the bill provided for annual in
creases OF 800 to teachers after the
hrst' year, something not to be
sneered at" and that under the or
ganlc school act of 1906 the superin-
tendent was charged with the re-
sponslbllity of making recommenda-
tions.
Mr.. Ward again took the floor and
declared that the bill would make
the teachers more subservient to the
superintendent than the serfs of Rus
sla used to be to the czar." His per-
Sonal advice to the teachers was to
fight the bill tooth and nail"
z"It will be far better to foreeo SAL
airy increase than to sacrifice man.
hood or womanhood." he said. He
charged that the bill does not give
equal rights to colored teachers, and
preference usually extended under
civil service regulations.
foIloWlng his rebuttal. Mr. Ward
Went TO the side of the room ana
shoek hands with DR.. Ballou, who had
re-. IEnia ,. ined during the entire discussion
filed. t'ilu
support Given Measure,
The association pledged sunnor+ -
the bill, in adopting q resolution nra1
sented by Louis F. Post, Chairman of
the school committee Resolutions.
also presented by Mr. Post. were
ADOPTED, pledging support TO the
citlZens' committee in efforts to fur
ther the interests of the school svs-
tenn; asking for full school day and
a seat for every pupil; asking that
congress raise the schools to a level
with the best in the country; naming
A. NJ. Edwards as delegate 10 the
auxiliary school committee.
Dr: Baliou. in the course of his re-
marks, said that salary readjustment
is very difficult problem and that If
the Columbia Association and other
cltlzen bodies recommended modifl-
cation at thisttime I'VE might Just as
we'll put the teachers salary bill
aside" The people ought to take the
best they think they can get, DR.. Bal
lou said.
If the bill passes. he continued, the
IDA0 iSl VIII bc doie 70 iiolu us Su-
perior teachers in the elementary
schools. he explained briefly the
compulsory school attendance bill and
school census provision, and correc-
ted an impression that by it's pro
visions the pupil. rather than the
parent, would be punished. 1t is just
the otherway round, he said.
L. c. Snyder, chairman of the asso-
ciation'S committee on taxation, read
a survey of the local tax situation
in which he stated that unless the
$5,000,000 surplus is collected there
is not much hope for Il reduction in
taxes.
resolution by J. Clinton Hiatt,
asking increased numbers of fire
alarm boxes, was adopted.
President J. Harley Speelman pre-
sided. New members admitted in
cIuded DR.. f. A. Reuter-, A. Sichi and
Miss Frances V. Morrison.