Evening star., 1946-07-02
School Board
Asks Flat $3.50
Teacher Raise
Sliding Scale Bill
Hit as Disturbing
And Unsatisfactory

Sharply criticizing the McCarran
bill for sliding scale increase in
teachers pay, the Board of Educa-
tion has called on the Senate District
Committee for approval of the Hoey
bill providing a fiat increase of $3.50
annually.
In a letter approved by the board
last night, Acting Chairman Hoey of
the committee was told "the need
for increased pay is immediate, and
your bill provides the relief that is
needed"
The principle of a fiat increase
is supported by the vast majority of
our teachers, and as you know has
been approved by the superintendent
OF schools and the Board of Educa-
tion,' the letter added.
Disturbing Factor Seen.
Finding fault with the bill intro
duced by Senator McCarran, Dem
ocrat, of Nevada, which had been
backed by Teachers Union Local 8
|of the American Federation of
Teachers (AFL) and also is pending
in the committee, the letter declared: :
1T is the conviction of the board
that any hurried attempt to adjust
salary relationships in the school
system at this time as proposed
under S. 1888 (the McCarran bilD
would not only be unwise but would
be so controversial that it would
disturb the operation and admins
tration of the school system quite
seriously.
In fact, such an attempt would
undoubtedly result in more dis
satisfaction than exists at the pres
ent time, because certain groups
do not receive any additional COM
pensation whatsoever under the
bill"
The board pointed out that both
houses of Congress had approved a
bill providing pay increases for po-
llcemen and firemen, and that
therefore "all groups of employees
Iof the District government except
ing teachers will receive increases
in their compensation beginning
July L.
Hope for Passage.
The Hoey measure has the ap-
proval of the District Commission
ers, the board explained, expressing
hope that Legislation of this kind
will be enacted by Congress before
it adjourns."
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
was authorized to advertise" for
two positions open in the school
| system. One is the post of assistant
to the superintendent in charge of
business affairs. carrying a salary of
$1,000. 1t was formerly occupied by
Jere j. Crane, retired. The other
is the newly created post of admin
flstratlye assistant in the business
Office.
Many recent committee reports
were approved by the board. They
include one to accept fight scholar
ships to be awarded to boys or girls
enrolled in aviation classes of the
senior high schools, Divisions l to 9
with the proviso 'the board will be
relieved of responsibility for injury
to students"
To Study Six-Year Plan.
An extensive report of the "pre.
llminary slx-year plan for postwar
washington was received from tn,
District Commissioners with the re-
quest that the board study that par
relating to schools and be prepared
to submit to the Commissioners rec,
concentrations for any changes. TIL,
report was referred to the superin.
tendent of schools and the board:
Committee on Finance.
The boards proposal that tn,
opening hour for public schools b,
changed from $50 am. to 9 am. i
being pushed by Supt. Corning, wht
said, however, he had received NJ
final answer from the Capital Tran.
sit Co. in the matter of transporta
tion. DR.. James A. Cannon, boare
!member, insisted the board pursue
its intention to change the openins
hour and complete plans for thi.
before reopening of schools in Sep.
tember.
AS had been anticipated, Mrs
Henry Grattan Doyle was reelected
president of the board for her 11tf
year. She began her seventh con.
secutive term, of three years each
on the board. DR.. Robert A. Maure,
was reelected vice president. Georg,
E. c. Hayes, who was recently reap.
pointed to the board, was sworn il
yesterday. Adelbert w. Lee, also re.
appointed, was reported i'll in Provi