Montana labor news., 1932-06-16
RACSDALE REFUSES TO FALL In
WITH HIS RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE TEACHERS

Superintendent Ragsdale, who has raised such a huabaOO about the
reduction of wages among janrors and their refusal to accept the cut is
merely blaming them for following his example.
Superintendent Ragsdale knows that his salary cannot be legally cut
for he is under contract ito receive a saary of $4,000 per year for another
year. When approached about making a voluntary reduction he refused,
o. the grounds that he would be violating his contract by taking less sal
airy and that he didn't feel as if he could voluntarily break that contract
He feared that if he broke it, he would be dismissed by the Board for
such violation. In answer to his objection, he va assured that the seven
board members would see that he was protected for the remainder of his
contract term. They advised him to get his own attorney to draw up the
contract in order that he would be assured legal protection The Board
assured him that all they were interested. in as a reduction in salary in
order that they might balance the budget. The superintendent of schools
refused to accept this offer. His reply to friends in response to their
query as TO why he has not had his salary reduced is that he thinks it a
trick of the Independents to get rid of him.
An editorial appeared in the Montana Standard OIL Saturday, June II,
ten by the editor of the Montana Standard. In the first place he is too
much of a gentleman to write in such a style, regardless of his personal
feelings. In the second place, the word psychology appears too often in
the editorial. The editor of the Standard is a good psychologist but he is
not always boasting of his knowledge of the subject. We do not know
who wrote the editorial, but all W Re car say is that it was written by one
who wanted to vent his spleen and gain favor with the wage cutters of
Silver Bow county. Personal feeling so controlled the writer OF the
editorial that facts and reason were forgotten.
Regarding the "boss jantors" and the comparison of their salaries to
the actual "scrubbers," there is one jantor receiving $l5 a month for
there are also 40 jantressee who receive $40 a month for nine months, All
of the janhors are men with families and TAXPAYERS in Silver Bow
county. Why the writer of the editorial should be so bitter about the
BOSS janitos receiving more pay than the scrubbers is lore than can
be understood. The BOSS TEACHER, Superintendent Ragsdale, receives
$4,000 DER wear salary. s45 per month for the use of his MARMON car, and
$3.50 to $500 annually IS al expense account to attend the meetings of
the Educational Association. Besides, the Board pays for many of the
special books he buys for research in advance degree work. Compare this
to the salaries of the teachers, which range from S26 to $2O per month
for nine months. If the sin is in the boss receiving more than the scrub
Der. why should the boss teacher receive three times the salary of the high
est paid teacher and six times as much as the lowest paid teacher?
The second point of irritation is that teachers receive a cut and the scrub
brs refuse to accept M In reply, why should a superintendent recommend
that his teachers do something that he himself won't do? Because the
jantors prefer to follow the example of the superintendent rather than
that of the teachers is N sin on the part of janitors.
The third accusation is that the teachers do not enter into politics, but
the janHors have a political connection that protects them. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the superintendent uses politics in his office. He chose to
work with the Womens Party, after he secured the princpalshp of the high
school under an Independent administration, when he saw that he could secure
the superntendency by working with the majority members. A superintendent
should keep out of politics and work in harmony with any board that is
elected.
The fourth point of antagonsm is ne against Unonism. It has been
stated that the teachers have M unions to back them. This is the fault of
the teachers. The American Federation of Teachers is a union affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor. The teachers of Butte can join
that union and organize a Local in Butte at any time they desire. This
would give them representation OF the Silver Bow Trades and Labor Coun-
ell and in the Montana State Federation of Labor, as well as the American
Federation Of Labor. The teachers have turned down offers of organza-
ton when unionism has been suggested to them. Because the workers see
the advantage of organization more clearly than the teachers is n con
but nevertheless Professor Dewey of Columbia and many of the teachers
of vi leading schools belong to the Federation. The teachers of Butte
should organize and resist all wage cuts, including the present one.
Venting ones spleen does not solve problems. We know that the schools
re in a serious financial condition, partially through mismanagement and
partially to scarcity Of tax receipts This is not only true of Butte but
of the whole country. In some larger cities schools are being u only half
time. The situation must be met and a program decided upon that will be
of benefit to pupils first and then to the others concerned, such as teachers,
janitors, and superintendent and supervisors. The situation could be met
il the superintendent weren't so bitter against the working classes and SO
anxious to ingratate himself with the elite of the city in his desire for
making a name for himself in educational circles. Editorials, such as APP
peared in the Standard, do 10 help matters. They merely pave the way
toward bitterness and strife. We are in dangerous times and we should
avoid all intensifying of the present and past frichons. Let us hope that
such editorials do not again appear and that reason, rather than prejudice
will rule the day.
nOCTNNI VyETC I WE NJ NT00DDV e