Evening star., 1933-01-29
CHICAGO DOUBTS
SCHOOL COLLAPSE
Reduction of Basic Pay Be-
Iieved Inevitable Under
Present Conditions.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CHICAGO, January 28 (N.A.NA).-
Predictions before congressional COM
mittee that Chicago's public school sys-
TEN would collapse within 80 days If q
Federal loan were not made to pay
overdue salaries Of teachers, must be
taken with several pinches of salt. The
warning was sounded by teacher. who,
no doubt, spoke vigorously his pardon
able feelings in earnest desire to i'm
press the authorities at washington.
Reduction in the basic pay of teach
ers seems inevitable in order to achieve
a balanced budget. Slashing cuts have
been made in all comfortable expendi-
lures at the inStigation Of citizens
committee which studied the financial
condition of local governing bodies es-
timated prospective revenue and recon-
mended, with mandatory tone, maxi
mum budget totals.
Needed to Whittle Costs.
The Board of Education has had an
anxious time whiting down to the
maximum allotted it. Failure to do so
would mean probable forfeiture of credit
with local banking concerns. School
tax anticipation warrants would con-
t1nue to go begging.
But, despite this trying situation,
which, in its immediate form, repre-
sentS two years of harassing experience
for the board and serious hardship for
teachers, Chicago public schools have
carried on, and the likelihood is they
will continue so to do under difficult
Ees. but with courage and effective
ness.
Chicago credits its school teachers
with magnificent loyalty. In the be-
ginning of the depression, and before
they encountered payless pay days, the
teachers raised by their own efforts and
liberal contributions more than $l00, 900
to pay for free lunches and provide
shoes and other necessities for children
OF unemployed parents. Since then,
unable to give and often in need them
selves. they have stuck to their jobs
and served with lMfailing devotion.
Support Helps Board.
That fine support has enabled Super
intendent of Education Began to make
encouraging progress in the develop
ment of more progressive methods and
higher teaching standards in the sys-
TEN. The trend Of thought and pro-
gram in the Chicago school system is
toward larger measure Of supervised
pupil freedom, less Of the predigested
type Of education, less of regimented
thinking. less use of the teachers men
tai ramrod with which to drive knowl-
edge into pupil heads. Inquiry and dis
cusSion are invited. Stimulation OF
thought is main objective.
Last year an experimental Summer
school for children was conducted, in
which new methods were put to the
test. Those that proved Of value were
adopted for more extended use as op-
portunity developed. Research has been
carried on with a view to more effectively
dealing with children who constitute
behavior problems Chicago now has
two public schools for boys who must
be given special attention because Of
truancy or other habits requiring cor
rection-the Moseley and the Mon
teflore. They have an international
reputation for their high efficiency and
modern methods.
Favors Behavior Study.
Supt. Began believes the reformatory
might become obsolete If q program
could be established for behavior prob
lens in their incipiency Such pro-
gram implies more intimate relation
ship between school and home, and
their better cooperation In the early
SolIcCtioii VI olotui DiiS lciocuC1cc.
Chicago has a unique club Of edu-
Gators, representing thinking men in
public and private schools, academies,
colleges and universities. It'haS no in
itiation fees, dues, committees, elections
or other things common to most clubs;
but it meets once a month with unfail-
ing regularity during the school year,
eats an early dinner and spends two
hours in discussion. Supt. Began Is its
perpetual presiding officer. and much
Of the stimulus that keeps Chicago
school men on their toes originates from
its sessions.
(Copyright, 1888. by North American News
paper Alliance. Inc)