Evening star., 1947-05-03
Teachers Pay
Continued From First Page.)
the District heads. They contended
the proposals are just and needed.

Vic PiopoodAS arc JuSt duQ llccueu.
The Commissioners, in their pre-
pared statement, recommended
that the $3.50. fat pay increase
granted teachers this year, and due
to expire on July i. be continued
permanently. They also recon-
mended that the Teachers Salary
Act of 1945 be enacted into perma-
nent law, which would hold salary
scales to the present level.
"The Commissioners are opposed
to the proposed new Teachers Sal
ary Act" the statement read.
They recommend in lieu thereof
that the Teachers Salary Act of
1o45 plus the temporary increase al
lowed during the fiscal year 1947 be
enacted into permanent law.
Some May Start at s2,S5o.
'"The Teachers Salary Act of 1945
increased. the minimum salary from
81, 400 to 81, 300 per annum to which
was added a temporary increase for
the current fiscal year, making the
present minimum $3.50 per annum.
However, teachers with previous ex-
perience may start at minimum
Of $2,850 under the. existing wage
scale, which is five increments above
the base.
There has been outcry here and
over the Nation that there is a
shortage of qualified teachers and
that something must be done to
induce young men and women to
enter and remain in the teaching
profession. The evidence before your
subcommittee did not, in our opin-
ion, establish the fact that we are
not getting qualified teachers be-
cause of the inadequacy of the
salary scale.
What is being attempted in the
proposed bill is ultimately to estab-
lish the single salary schedule, or
make the inducement such that in
a few years no one9will be able to
enter the teaching profession in the
District of Columbia without a
masters degree. The present re-
quirement is q bachelors degree
In the elementary school and q
masters degree in the junior and
senior high schools.
The sponsors have not justi-
fed, in our opinion, change In
this system"
A terse, that's interesting" came
from Senator Cain, Republican, ol
Washington, chairman of the join
subcommittee, as he read the com
lmunication from the Commissioners
Still Under Consideration
He added he would have no com.
ment over the week end except tt
say the teacher pay bill Still Il
under consideration"
Representative Bates, Republican
of Massachusetts,, co-chairman with
Senator Cain. was more explicit IL
his reactions but still Withheld fina
judgment.
| Mr.. Bates said fatty he saw nt
necessity for holding further hear
ings to give school spokesmen al
opportunity to answer the Com
misSioners.
This statement OF the Commits
sioners, to keep teacher pay scale
as is, he said, "is simple, plain an.
everything here is factual. TIL
hearings are closed. The joint com
mittee will give very careful con
sideration to the views the Com
| ~, fccior,arS aypraec
Commissioner Mason and grou,
Of reporters were In Mr.. Bates
Office as he read the statement
Mr.. Bates agreed with Mr.. Masor
that 1t appeared the single salar,
plan likely would "set pattern
that would require, in final effect
| that an applicant for q teachin,
post. even in the elementary schools
would have to show masters de.
gree. Mr.. Bates said he did no
think 1t was necessary. Mr.. Masor
agreed.
Calls Argument strong"
On the other hand, Mr.. Bates salt
school ofhcials had made & "ver,
strong argument Of the dificultie'