Evening star., 1947-01-02

to national disaster" the NEA
report maintained.
The report said further:
Group action is essential today.
The former practice where teachers
individually bargained with the SUI
perintendent of schools or the Board
of Education for their salaries is
largely past. For years there has
been a steady movement in the di-
rection of salary schedules applying
to all teachers"
Recommended was the formation
of local committees chosen by the
entire teaching group which will
have the full authority to represent
and act for the whole group.
Steps Outlined.
The first step of such a commit
tee would be to make a study of the
present salary scheduled and the
financial resources of the school sys-
tenn. The second step would be to
formulate plan, calling for new
salary schedules and working condi-
tions and submit it to the teaching
group for approval.
The third step would be for the
committee to obtain action from
the Board Of Education or school
head.
The NEA recommended e mini
mum annual salary of $2,400 for a
qualified beginning teacher who is
college graduate. Beginning the
second year, there should be in
crements leading to a salary level
for experienced teachers ranging
from $4,000 to $1,000 year.
Present average salary of teach
ers, principals, supervisors and all
other educational personnel in pub
lie schools now is approximately
$3.50.
Starting Pay Now S2,350.
Starting pay for District elemen-
tary school teachers is $3.50 as a
result of the $3.50 pay boost granted
by Congress last summer. Under
the scale now in effect, local teach
ers may earn up to $3,750, with about
10 per cent of their number who
meet rigid requirements attaining a
super maximum" of $4,150.
The act granting the raise expires
July /. 1t directed the School Board
to make pay recommendations to
the chairmen of the Senate and
House District Committees before
February l.. It was in line with this
that the Joint Legislative Councils
report, now in the hands of School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning, was pre-
pared.
Among other things, the report
advocates equal pay for equal edu-
cational attainment, regardless of
grade level. Though it's pay pro-
posals have remained secret, educa-
tors have indicated that among them
is a suggestion that maximum
teachers pay be upped to about
$500 year.
The NEA report recommended
that following local action the teach
basis. An example was cited in Cali
fornia where the State Education
Association took the question of
teachers salaries to the polls and
a State law requiring a minimum
OF $2,400 a year was passed.
Compares Increases.
The national income increased
400 per cent from 1882 to 1914 while
school expenditures increased only
IL per cent, the report claimed.
The NEA called for greater State
and Federal aid for schools. A bill
will be introduced in Congress thi!
year to give Federal aid to som,
35 States which are spending les!
than $40 a year per school child II
spite of the fact that the nationa
average is $110 per child per year
Mr.. Givens said. II the bill Is
passed, no State will be spending
less than $40 a year per child, Mr.
Givens said. 81 : fe4...
The ,NEA listed its policies in the
report as follows: - '%
70 % An adequate educational op-
portunity for every child is imper-
ative for the Nations welfare.
Would Raise Standards.
(2) The profession and the pub
lie must raise professional stand
ards and improve the ,services OF
the schools.
(3) Teachers should keep con-
tracts and agreements.
"a Teachers should insist on pro-
fessional salaries.
(5) Teachers in all local school
systems should seek adequate sal
aries through professional group
action.
60 Action on such agreements
would be achieved through demo.
]aES60696R