Evening star., 1947-05-03

encountered IN getting Quallfied
teachers today because Of low SAL
aries.
As Mr.. Bates began reading the
Commissioners statement, he COM
mented that's hitting the thing on
the nose"
Maybe we will be hit on the
nose" said Mr.. Mason. ).
Maybe" said Mr.. Bates, "but
sometimes those with administrative
responsibilities have to say no."
Mrs. Doyle, speaking for the Board
of Education said:
I'VE were asked by Congress to
make survey to set up an equitable
pay scale. We did it conscientiously,
thoroughly, with the full co-opera-
ton Of the staffs of the schools. 1t
still is our best judgment"
School Supt. Corning pointed out
that the Commissioners recommen-
dation would mean mo increase
whatever for the teachers" over
their salary this year.
Pattern" Says Corning.
"The country over is recognizing
the need for advancing salaries over
last year." he said. "It is COM
mon pattern. It's hardly conceivable
that Washington's teachers don't
deserve an increase"
DR.. Corning said the masters de-
gree Is required, at present, only in
senior high schools and the idea OF
requiring it of all teachers ''has
never entered any ones mind" The
proposed bill allows any teacher who
earns the masters degree the priv
ilege of a higher salary and Is an
inducement to get a masters degree
I don't know of a place In the
United States where this has re-
suited In the requirement of a mas
ter's degree" he declared.
DR.. Corning said 1t could not be
disputed that low salaries made II
hard to attract teachers. He said
it was strange that the Chamber oi
Commerce and other business groups
are convinced of this, but that the
Commissioners did not think it ap.
plicable to Washington.
Senator McCarran declared:
"The statement of the Commits
sioners on the proposed new Teach
ers' Salary Act is in line with what
might have been expected by one
familiar with how the government
of the District of Columbia is run.
Wanted Temporary Increase.
ut is interesting to find the Com.
missioners urging that the salary
increase allowed for the year 194T
be made permanent. When I was
working for a permanent increase
a year ago, 1t was the Commissioners
who cried loudest for a temporary
increase only they thought an op.
portunity should be given, they said
then, for thorough study of the
situation so that legislation could
be prepared which would remove
inequities and cure defects in the
present salary system.
"The Commissioners statement Is
uninformed In stating that evidence
presented did not establish the fact
that salary inadequacies are pre-
venting the District from getting
an adequate supply of qualified
teachers. Apparently the Commits
sioners are not even familiar with
the testimony of DR.. Corning on this
point. Certainly they. have not reac
either the reports and studies OF
the National Education Association
on this subject, or even the news.
paper stories concerning them.
"It is either egregious self-stulti.
fication or a deliberate attempt tt
mislead to say that the proposed
Teachers Salary Act is an attemp
| to create q situation under which
In a few years no one will be abll
to enter the teaching profession il
the District of Columbia without /,
masters degree; but do not NEAR
to charge the Commissioners Will
attempting to mislead the Congress
| THE Commissioners statemen
will naturally be aggrayating to al
teachers, all parents of school chill
dren. every one else who know
anything about the subject O
teachers salaries, and all those resi-
dents of the District who, thougl
voteless, yet retain enough Of tn
instincts Of citizenship to resen
bungling, incoherent thinking an,
! double-talk in those who govern
them, but 1t will be much less OF al
Indictment to rage than II it wer
less amusing.
Undoubtedly one good effect vii
flow from this statement: 1t is on
OF the best arguments for home rul
in the District of Columbia tina
has been advanced in a long, lon
time"