The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1957-11-15

Helena, Montana
Dear Sir:
Having studied with some care botl
articles carried by The Peoples Voice
September and 20) on the Butte
teachers controversy, we are moved
to make some observations available
to the public.
There seems to be considerable
quibbling about salaries paid in the
various systems. Have you investi-
gated the initial rise in salaries in
Montana? Where did the first rise
(parity consideration, if you willy
take place? Butte, Montana. The
Teachers Union with the support of
organized labor set the pace.
We recall that a great deal of I'M
rest. especially among the men teach
ers. spread throughout the state
meetings were held in almost all
areas, but no results were forthcoming
in the way of adequate salaries. Many
of the men enlisted in the armed serv-
ices. The teaching force was so de-
pleted by an exodus of qualified
teachers that high school graduates
were employed with the understand
ing that they would attend summer
school for six, or eight, weeks. Some
of our former students twitted us
about the salaries they were being
paid as compared to the salaries of
teachers who had been members of
the M.E.A. for some Is, or IS, years
How many schools throughout the
state have teachers working for less
than $4,000 today? With the Acc dol
lar, that keeps teacher from con-
tributing to the initiation.
The impact of the formation of
teachers unions affiliated with or
ganized labor can be definitely recog-
nized by comparing salaries paid in
North Dakota and Idaho with the
salaries paid in Montana. (Teachers'
unions have been more recently or
ganized in these states.) And the
teachers in these adjoining states
have their social clubs, listed as
teachers associations, purporting to
have the interest of the teacher as
one major concern. But what have
hey done for their teachers, who |
cave these states in increasing num-
,ers each year?
1t would seem that the material
n both articles devoted to profession
lily trained teachers in the various
chool systems of the state is extrane-
us, for the reason that the schools
must meet established accrediting
tandards set by the state of Mon
ana.
We made note of Propaganda
Device in one of the articles
7herein considerable space was de-
oted to the "little child" Why clut-
err pages with admitted matter? We
bought the controversy was based on
he Butte Teachers alleged grievance.
More space was devoted to paying
ribute to "1abor and mutual respect,
tc.'' although as long as we held
membership in the MEA at no time
vas a representative of labor invited {
D address the group, yet repeatedly {
gentleman who was secretary of
ne Chamber of Commerce, was a
eatured speaker on the programs. t
1e neither oppose nor condone this +
olicy. 1t is merely an observation +
lat we consider significant. T
The second article states that the
5uhor recognizes the Importance of .
Dor unions; yet, at no point in the :
.ticle was recognition given the work T
one by organized labor in Montana =
improving school finances. We =
ather from the article that the MEA .
d all the legislative work single q
sort of "Horatius at the -
ridge" accomplishment. :.
Again referring to the MEA article -
September 20, the comments on j. !,
e work done on the bills to increase -
hool funds during the last legisla-
re session were at least confusing o.
e agree-the bills were introduced CL