The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-05-08
MORELIGHT THROWN ON
CITY'S SCHOOL SYSTEM
Actual Figures Given The Public, To Show
What the Augment is About; Maybe We
Need Some Women Trustees

Much comment has arisen
over the fact that all unusual
" large number of teachers
now serving in the Elizabeth
City schools, some Of whom
have taught for years. have de-
cided to seek positions else
where next year. Some are
high school teachers, some
grammar grade teachers, and
some primary teachers.
On the one band il Is whispered
about that many Of the teachers In
the primary and intermediate de-
partments are considerably under
paid, considering their training, ex
pcricncc. and the grade Of thei
certificates, basing their prescnt
salaries on the rating prescribed
by the state US the minimum salary,
The education of the future citi-
zcns of Elizabeth City being mat
ter of much public concern, this
newspaper has looked bit into the
Situation. 1t has found conditions
such as have existed for years, and
such as are to he expected on an
unwicldy schOOlbOard, which has
been Il one man school board for
many years. Conditions that might
be expected of a board whose direct
ing head is noted for the love OF
the dollar, and the desire to pinch
here and there, even tho it be at
the expense of the future genera
ton. Under such conditions, the
school administration will continue
to he hampered, and Elizabeth City
may well expect TO have difficulty
in finding competent teachers who
will be satisfied with the salaries
offered
VI tiC fihNs
the teachers in the Elizabeth City
schools will show high school teach
crs receiving an average salary Of
S1.G10 annually, as compared with
The North Carolina average Of
Sl,329, In towns up to 10000 in
population, as set forth in bulle-
tin of the National Education AssO-
citation of Washington, d. G. Ele-
mcntary teachers however, receive
an average annual salary OF S1,O2i
d Elizabeth City or less than the
average salary Of $1,057 in towns
Of 10000 and less in North Carolina.
The bulletin of the National Edu-
cation Association in the records
of this newspaper office. does not
give the average annual salary OF
primary teachers, in towns of less
than 10000 population in North
Carolina, but, the average salary
paid the primary teachers Of Eliz'
about City is SI,OGS.
AS a matter of fact however,
many primary teachers in Elizabeth
City are paid less than the mini
mum ratings for the certificates
they hold, and their length Of eX-
pcricncc, as prescribed by the State
Bourd of Education. On The other
hand, many high school teacher
are paid far above the state rat'
ing.
Many vf tue high school teachers
who arc paid comparatively high
salaries, are highly trained specl.
altSts, and good teachers in the
higher grades arc hard TO get. 1t
is necessary in Elizabeth City, to
pay high school teachers more
money than the state rating allows.
because other towns are also payiDt
more. But it is easier to get pri
mary or elementary certificate ~
some kind. aud Acre arc morc.pri
mary and elementary teacher.
Hence Elizabeth City can alway
find teachers for the lower grade
by paying only the minimum solar
or less.
Elizabeth City has usually be
fortunate in securing teachers f..
the lower grades, who were th0ro,
capable. Many Of them make tbt
homes here, and find it as proiitab'a
TO teach in Elizabeth City for les.
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