Evening star., 1949-02-24

ADRIENNE KOCH
w. MCNEIL LOWRY.
Teachers Not Overpaid
To the EDITOR of The Star:
Either Harold J. Oliver shares the be-
lief Of many unthinking persons that
teachers day is confined to school hours or
he merely is trying to bring the compare
lively low wages of teachers into the lime
light in his letter entitled We'll Paid Teach
ers' in The Star of February 81.
If the former, let him be reminded that
there are the days assignments to plan pa
perS to grade, grades to make out, innumer-
able reports to be prepared, meetings to
attend, parents to consult, ETC., etc.
And does he expect teachers to live on air
during the nonteaching months? If they
are paid on an annual basis, their monthly
remuneration is paltry compared with the
time and effort spent in training; if they
are paid only for months worked, the
monthly stipend must be stretched to cover
the months, of vacation" which are sup
posed to be spent in travel or in advanced
study, at additional expense. Disregarding
these broadening" experiences, it is diff
flcult to find any very remunerative en-
ployment of a temporary nature for those
months, if the family income is in need of
supplement.
If Mr.. Oliver had to cope with some of the
undisciplined young hopefuls for even
short time. he probably would be ready to
throw in the sponge. One such child can
spoil the work planned for large class,
can upset both teacher and pupils for the
day. An interested and cooperative class
is job, but too many children have no re-
spect for authority, and this is aggravated
by parents who openly criticize their chill
off 1,,ifl,
son.
Teachers are expected to control children
who are not subject to discipline at home,
and successful teacher should be we'll paid.
Instead more is spent on liquor and movies
than on education!
Mr.. Oliver asks what other group with
equal training is obtaining 81 an hour for
its services. Well some BARRIERS charge So
for five minutes spent trimming womens
halr. Doctors and dentists with not great
deal more training, average much higher
pay, as do lawyers. And has Mr. Oliver
hired carpenter or boilermaker lately?
M NJ
To the Editor of The Star:
Harold J. divers letter in The Star
came to me as serious shock. It is sad
to realize that there still are people who do
not know what teachers work involves
The f1ve-hour day mentioned is more often
twice as long as that when the necessary
time for preparations, correction Of papers,
grading, research and miscellany of other
duties areas they should be-included
AS for the four months of vacation"
teachers supposedly have each year. will
Just add that I do not wish any harm to
Mr.. Oliver and therefore hope that he never
will have such vacations"
All considered. teachers salaries are closer
to the minimum hourly wage Congress now
is considering than to the 81 that Mr. Oliver
mentions. B. P. SPIRO.
Varying Views on Rent Control
To the Editor of The Star:
Removal of rent controls, or any over
all increase in rents. at this time, would
give labor the needed excuse to demand a
fourth round wage increase-an excuse
which the levelling off of prices has re-
moved
Rent increases would bring wage increases.
then price increases. and the inf1ationary
spiral would go up again.
AS the rent control boards know, most
efficient landlords are making a modest
profit under rent control There are hard
ship cases, Of course, and relief for these
must continue to be provided.
But the plight of the owner isn't always
as black as he has painted it. Before the
housing shortage and the imposition of rent
control, most apartment house owners had
an average vacancy of 10fo, redecorated
their apartments for new tenants, and still
made a reasonable profit Under present
conditions, they have 1000 occupancy, give
reduced services and in many cases, require
new tenants to pay for redecorating before
possession can be secured. Sometimes, due
tn Iofu 1;,,to
owner, the cost of the painting job is padded
with substantial kick-back for the owner.
Thus the tenant pays what amounts to
12-15% increase.
Shelter is of such primary importance
that it ranks as a vital public utility. It is
unfortunate but necessary that owners Of
rental housing, for the duration of the
housing shortage. should sacrifice their
hope Of substantial profits to national well
fare. H. D. c..
To the Editor Of The Star:
Why don't our Senators and Representa-
tives stop being vote getters and start being
practical men about rent control?
First: 1t is un-American and it violates
the Bill of Rights.
Second: 1t retards building and expansion
of housing units
Third: It is unfair, unequal and discrim-
inatory
a. Because the veterans are the ones pay
ing the high rent on new apartments.
b. Because people that are financially
able to buy homes are in the cheaper apart
ments and will not buy expensive homes.
All any landlord or tenant can ask is a
square deal. What we need in place of such
radical controls is little equal distributions
Let our Congressman investigate before they
AN EX-VET.
Appreciation of a Good Barber
To the Editor Of The Star:
People die and the world goes right on.
But when a man dies who never uttered an