Evening star., 1947-05-06
School Board iews
On teacher Pay Bill
Are Sent 10 coneTess


ers' pay raise bill still awaiting ac-
tion In Congress, today was sent
to the cflairmen OF House and Sen
ate fiscal subconnlittees.
Board members yesterday a'll-
thorized School Supt. Hobart M
Corning to send the statement to
clear up any misunderstanding
about the purpose of the bin.
DR.. Corning. in the statement for
warded to Congress, outlined the
purposes ofsthe bill, particularly in
regard to the single salary schedule.
The purpossaof the single salary
of course, is to provide equal pay
for equal training and experience
regardless of the level at which one
is teaching" he said. This is based
upon the now accepted theory that
teaching at all levels is equally irl-
portant and requires equivalent
skills and preparation
Seeks to Provide Incentive.
DR.. Corning explained That, a,
present, a salary recognition of 9
masters degree has been available
to teachers in the senior high
schools, vocational high schools aIlt
Junior high schools, but has beer
denied to teachers in the elementary
schools. The proposed legislation
gives the elementary teacher this
opportunity for salary advancement
and that is all, he maintained.
"The spirit and purpose OF the
single SALARY schedule is to provide
an incentive to teachers at various
levels to continue their trailing anc
to reward them by higher salaries y
they attain the masters degree,
DR.. Corning's statement said.
DR.. Corning asked for the privi-
Flege of appearing before the joint
committee again II alterations te
the legislation are contemplated
The Commissioners also received 9
copy Of the statement.
Meanwhile, Chairman Horan OF
the House subcommittee in charge
of the District budget, yesterday
challenged views expressed by the
District Commissioners in their op-
position to the bill. The Commis.
sioners bluntly opposed the sal
ary increase. In statement sent
to the joint House-Senate fiscal
subcommittee last week, they rec
commended the present pay scale
be made permanent.
Sees misunderstanding.
Mr.. Horan, In his statement yes
terday, said apparently there was
gross misunderstanding of the
inadequacy Of present salary scales
lin competition with industry In the
employment of trained personnel.
He said this applied even in the
District, which has a higher scale
than some comparable cities. The
question of making a masters de-
gree prerequisite to teaching ir
the Districts public schools, Mr.
Horan said. is not involved directly
In the single salary schedule.
The Commissioners had taken the
view that the single salary plar
might set pattern which. in effect
would mean masters degree re-
lQuirement.
Mr.. Horan voiced hope that some
thing will be- devised in the District
as across the Nation, to ilducesthose
in the teaching profession to i'm
prove their qualifications.
Special Meeting Held.
The Board of Educatio11's Legis-
lative Committee held a special
meeting yesterday to authorize DR.
Corning to- draft the statement
which they hoped would clear the
atmosphere. I" Board members
stated they stood behind the original
recomme1G42iofH for the sa1nry in-
crease ana otha revisions to thu
present pay scale, and felt that this
Commissioners did not understand
the philosophy" of the bill.
Adelbert w. Lee, chairman Of the
Board Committee, said the Commis-
sioners missed the objectives Of the
bill, particularly in the matter o1
the masters degree,
I'VE may not always agree, but al
least we can be clear on the facts,
he declared.
The proposed bill would give
teachers a fiat 500 raise, which Ii
$3.50 more than they are now getting
under, a temporary $3.50 raise due
to expire on June 80. The bill also
|revises the pay scale, substantially
raising the minimums and maxi
NUNS, and establishes equal pay
for equal training in. all levels o1
teachers.