USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Rutland > Annual report, City of Rutland, Vermont, 1917 > Part 24
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This is the second year of Vocational Training in the High school and the course seems to be giving general satisfaction. Twenty-one boys are taking the course and are learning practi- cal work in our local industrial plants. At least a dozen more boys could readily find part time employment if they were taking this course.
I regret that the course in Manual Training for boys in the grades has been allowed to lapse. This course was commenced in a small way, but a few years ago, 24 work benches were con- structed and equipped with full sets of tools and about $1500
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worth of machinery installed. For several years the course was very successful and the exhibits of work done by the pupils al- ways excited most favorable comment. We still have the benches, the tools, the machinery and the children, but the teacher is lacking. The whole affair savours of what the political econo- mist would term "economic waste." In my judgment the course should be put back to the status that it occupied three or four years ago, or the equipment sold, the rooms formerly used de- voted to some other purpose and the course relegated to that oblivion that awaits so many educational experiments that are abandoned upon the very threshold of success.
A complete set of china should be purchased for the cooking school, and a large mirror furnished for the benefit of the classes in sewing at the Dana building. A cracked pitcher and a totally inadequate supply of table china do not accord with my bachelor ideas of good housekeeping and, in a course that ex- ploits the "making and fashioning of garments," a mirror is a necessary adjunct,-at least I am so informed. I make these comments' in all seriousness, I believe thoroughly in these courses in domestic science and home economics and I want to see them amply provided with whatever is essential to their success.
The social and athletic activities of the schools have, as formerly, been properly encouraged and carefully supervised. Schools throughout the country are laying greater stress each year upon these important phases of school life. I believe that it is a wise policy and hope that student activities will continue to be encouraged and emphasized in our local schools.
TEACHERS' SALARIES
Early in December, at the request of the Rutland Teachers' Association, I appointed a committee to examine into and report upon the salaries, living and working conditions of the teachers in the schools of Rutland. This committee has reported and at the proper time the Board of School Commissioners will doubt- less determine what action, if any, they will take in order to
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CITY OF RUTLAND
bring the findings of this Committee to the attention of the tax- payers for action. It would hardly be proper for me to discuss this report but I cannot refrain from saying a word or two upon the general subject of salaries now being paid to our public school teachers. This question, I may add, is not being discussed in Rutland alone, it is being agitated all over this country, and is, today, the biggest question with which any person interested in the public schools has to deal. I assume that a large majority of those who are taking the trouble to read this report have at some time in their lives attended the Rutland schools, many of them, today, have children attending these schools, I expect that they are alive to the defects and I hope that they are not unap- preciative of the good results accomplished by our schools. Over 2100 children are registered and they are being educated at an average cost of $40 a year per pupil. When parents willingly pay from $800 to $1500 a year in order that their children may enjoy the environment, social advantages, acquaintances and specialized college preparation of a private school, I submit that the cost of public school education in Rutland is not excessive, especially in view of the fact that statistics compiled at Harvard and Yale Universities show that, after the middle of the Sopho- more year, students educated in public schools show scholastic ability superior to that of their classmates who are more gently and more expensively educated. Doubtless all my readers are only too familiar with the great increase that has taken place in the cost of living during the past four years. The Committee referred to has found that the salaries of 45 of our 62 teachers average $697 a year and out of this $697 they have to clothe themselves, pay carfare, pay rent and board or if they live at home contribute toward the expenses of the household, buy books and educational periodicals, contribute to charity, in other words live like other people, and, I ask CAN IT BE DONE ? The answer is NO. These teachers average a loss of $32 a year, a fairly high price to pay for the privilege of teaching. At pres- ent several of our school janitors are getting larger salaries than teachers who have been in our employ over twenty years. "At
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the present rate of teachers' salaries," to quote the Chicago Trade Survey "the average teacher will have to live to be 70 before her total earnings are as much as a laborer can make by the time he is 40." And I fear that a Vermont school teacher will become a centenarian before he or she arrives at this peak of, worldly prosperity. And what will be the inevitable result if conditions are not improved ? Over 145,000 teachers have aban- " doned this profession during the past year to seek more remun- erative employment. Over 2787 teachers are employed in Ver- mont, and, today, only 210 are taking Normal School or Teacher Training Courses and our Normal Schools cease to exist in Au- gust 1920! The teachers of Rutland have not threatened any coercive measures, they have not thought of striking, they have been loyal, splendidly loyal,-I know of several teachers who have remained in Rutland in spite of more tempting offers to go elsewhere; but what will happen if any considerable number of our teachers decide that, after years of service, humiliating economics and starvation wages are all the recognition that their loyalty receives? Where will we look for others to fill their places ?
I have taken some time to try and point out that the expense for education in Rutland is not high, that our educational offer- ings are on a par with those of other public school systems, that the loyalty of our teaching force is unquestioned and that, in spite of this fact, they are pitifully underpaid. If I have made out a case I believe that Rutland's taxpayers will at our March meeting register their appreciation in a form more substantial than mere verbal eulogies.
I may seem to be an optomist, I admit it. My faith in human nature and in our public school system is stronger than it was sixteen years ago. If I should serve for another sixteen years as School Commissioner, which heaven forbid, I expect that I shall be twice as optomistic as I am now.
Respectfully, HARVEY R. KINGSLEY,
President of Board of School Commissioners.
Rutland, Vt., January 29, 1920.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the Board of School Commissioners and City Council of the City of Rutland:
In accordance with the regulations of your honorable board, and the requirements of the city charter, I herewith present my fourteenth annual report of the schools of this city.
The statistical tables and other data formerly published as a basis of comparison, also the reports of the Principal of the High School and of the heads of the special departments, have been prepared as usual but by special direction of the Board will not be published in the city reports. This plan, adopted some years since, seems to be satisfactory to the patrons of the schools and results in greatly reducing the expense of printing.
The school enrollment, membership and attendance for the natural school year ending June 30, 1918, were all smaller than for the several preceding years and these decreases con- tinued during the Fall Term of 1918, due almost wholly to the prevalence of the epidemic of a year ago. Since January, 1919, the enrollment, membership and attendance in the schools as well as the school census show continued gains and are now greater than at any time during the past three years. The percent of attendance to membership, while not so large as in some years in the past, is now most satisfactory and considera- bly exceeds the general average in Vermont and in New Eng- land.
NEW SCHOOLS NEEDED.
The decrease in school attendance in 1918 and 1919 cou- pled with the necessity of conducting the schools with the strictest economy enabled the School Board to assign the pupils formerly attending the Gilrain Avenue and School Street
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schools to other buildings and, by opening up two additional rooms, to close the two former buildings, thus saving rent, fuel, repairs and services of two janitors and three teachers.
If the present increase in school attendance continues it will become necessary to open one or two additional schools next Fall and the need of such schools will be the greatest in wards six and seven. To meet these demands the Board has one unoccupied room in the Lincoln Building, too remote to be of real service, an unfinished room on the third floor of the Kingsley Building and the old School Street Building, con- siderably out of repair.
I recommend that the Board give early consideration to this problem so that there may be ample time to secure proper accommodations for such additional school or schools prior to the opening of the Fall Term.
FINANCES FOR 1919.
The Financial Statement for the school year ending De- cember 31st, 1919, made by the Finance Committee of the School Board and incorporated into the City Treasurer's re- port, shows that the gross receipts for the support of the public schools in this city were $78,701.39. Of this amount $66,466.69 was realized from city taxes, $3,224.73 from the State, $3,954.50 from tuition, $1,055.25 from the sale of high school text books, $189.38 from incidentals and ground rent, and $3,810.84 un- expended balance of the previous year. The total expendi- tures were $77,014.99. Of this amount $57,790.85 was paid for salaries, $3,593.50 for repairs on school buildings, $8,446.75 for fuel, light and power, $5,189.53 for text books and supplies, $1,068.90 for insurance, rent, printing and advertising, $925.46 for sundries, leaving an unexpended balance in the Treasury of $1,686.40. An itemized statement of the assets and liabilities of the school department on December 31, 1919, filed with the City Treasurer, showed that the assets, which included cash balance in the Treasury, rebates from the state accrued but not due, fuel and supplies on hand, aggregated $7,381.94, while
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the indebtedness aggregated $138.55, giving an excess in assets over liabilities of $7,243.39. A similar statement of the assets and liabilities of December 31, 1918, placed the assets over the liabilities $8,014.84. If this summary be compared with that given in my report of last year it will be seen that the gross receipts increased $9,137.88 and the gross expenditures increased $11,262.32, while the statement of estimated assets and liabilities of the school department filed with the City Treasurer remained nearly the same. The increased receipts were derived chiefly from city taxes, tuition, state rebates, the sale of High School text books and unexpended balance of the previous year, and the greater expenditures were caused by increases in salaries and in the cost of repairs, text books and supplies.
FINANCES FOR 1920.
The maintenance of the public schools is the greatest single expense that any municipality has to face and the one expense most willingly and generously met by its citizens. This prob- lem of financing the schools, great under normal conditions, becomes more and more perplexing in times like the present. The higher salaries, higher cost of repairs 'and supplies of all kinds cannot be met by the low tax rate of former years. While the financial showing of the past year is good, due to the surplus of the previous year and to the fact that increases in salaries already granted have been met only for a part of the present year, it is very obvious that if the present rate of expenditures is continued, and the school tax remains as at present, the school expenditures for the present fiscal year will exceed the probable school receipts by more than $5000, and I am unable to see how such a deficit at the close of the year can be avoided except by increasing the present tax rate for schools.
Again, the teachers and janitors are now asking the School Board for substantial increases in salaries and their request appears to me reasonable and just. These employees of the (9)
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ANNUAL REPORT
city, more than seventy in number, are at present receiving salaries in no way commensurate with their worth and with the salaries paid in other lines of service. This condition is not peculiar to Rutland, but a nation-wide movement. The justness of the claim for higher salaries for teachers in Ver- mont was recognized and endorsed at a joint meeting recently held in Burlington of the State Board of Education and some two hundred and fifty school directors of the state when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
1. Whereas the salaries of teachers have been depre- ciated more than one-half by reason of the decline in the purchasing value of the dollar and
2. the larger wages and opportunities offered by in- dustries have diverted many ambitious young persons from the teaching profession and have also attracted many who were employed in the schools so that there now exists a great scarcity of teachers and
3. the welfare of the State and the preservation of Americanization depends in a large measure upon the character of our schools and
4. as there is need that the teachers be assisted in their worthy efforts to reach a higher degree of efficiency,
BE IT RESOLVED :
1. That a real crisis exists in our public school sys- tem that threatens a breakdown of our schools.
2. That it is imperative that effective measures be promptly taken to prevent disaster.
3. That it is essential to provide salaries for our teachers which will decently support them, relieve their unrest and encourage their continuing in the profession of teaching and promote a respect for the calling that will assure a continued supply of capable teachers for the future.
4. That there should be a general increase in salaries of teachers throughout the State of at least 50% of salaries as they existed in 1916 before the United States entered the war.
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CITY OF RUTLAND
In response to a request of the Rutland Teachers' Associa- tion the President of the Rutland School Board appointed a special committee, headed by the Mayor of the City, to inves- tigate salaries, living and working conditions of teachers in this city. This special committee has made its report to the School Board, in which it is unanimously recommended that an increase of practically $300 be made to the salary at present paid each teacher in this city.
In view of these demands for higher salaries and to pro- vide funds to meet increases in the general expenses of the schools, including the opening of one or more additional rooms, the School Board has unanimously voted to ask the citizens of Rutland for a substantial increase in the school tax for the present year. While this new tax rate for schools may appear high, it should be borne in mind that the increases in salaries asked for are no greater than those now being granted else- where in the state and the tax rate for schools would still be low compared with that to be asked for in other important towns of Vermont.
The following table gives the tax rate for current school expenses for the years 1917, 1918 and 1919, and the percent to be asked for the present year, in the ten largest places in Vermont.
Town or City
School tax 1917 expended
School tax 1918 voted
School tax 1919 voted
School tax 1920 asked
Rutland
55c
55c
55c
75c
Barre City
821%c
85c
103c
153c
Bennington I. D.
100c
110c
125c
135c
Brattleboro I. D.
6712€
69€
80℃
95c
Burlington
55c
55
57c
65c
Montpelier
65c
67€
70c
93c
Rockingham
60c
70c
80c
95c
Springfield
62c
75c
70c
85c
St. Albans City
55c
55c
65c
75c
St. Johnsbury
62c
80c
90c
125c
TEACHING FORCE.
Since writing my last report two of our most respected teachers have passed away-one had taught in this city for thirty-four years, the other for twenty-three; both have been
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ANNUAL REPORT
for many years principals of grade buildings; both were women of high ideals and of sterling character; both were devoted to their work and were universally loved and honored by their pupils and by the entire community. Resolutions adopted by the Rutland Teachers' Association show the esteem in which they were held by their fellow teachers.
The "Silent Messenger" has entered the ranks of the Rutland Teachers' Association and taken our beloved co- worker, Rose C. Carrigan, one of the oldest in service, and most respected of our teachers.
1
She has lived her life of service faithfully and earnest- ly and her name will ever awaken a throb of remembrance and appreciation in the hearts of all who came under her sway.
She will be missed by many, and our Association has lost a loyal worker and a staunch member.
"We know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; We only know we cannot drift Beyond His love and care."
Once again the Angel of the Lord has entered our ranks and Bessie M. Otis, whom we knew so well and loved so tenderly, has been called to her Heavenly Home; but ever and forever will sweet memory of her live in our hearts. No words are needed to tell of her deeds of loyalty and the manner in which she endeared herself to the whole community. Her loving, unselfish life, the ability that she manifested and the kind sympathy which she extended to others will always be remembered and appreciated by those who knew her well. By her death, our Association has lost a strong worker and a noble member.
"The veil is thin, which intervenes, Rent by a passing breath, That gives to me my own once more, Forever, on a fairer shore, And yet-you call it Death."
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CITY OF RUTLAND
Eleven changes have occurred in the teaching force during the past year. Three teachers resigned to be married, two substitute teachers were replaced by regular teachers and six teachers resigned because of low salaries.
In my last report reference was made to the subject of salaries paid in Rutland and, since conditions that then existed have not materially changed and what I then said is equally applicable now, I quote from that report as follows: "While the salaries of all teachers and janitors were increased at the beginning of the present school year they are still low in com- parison with the wages paid in other lines of work and to the high cost of living and do not bear a just proportion to the aggregate expenditures of the school department."
"The demands upon teachers were never so great and exacting as at present and the purchasing value of the dollar has shrunk to that extent that the salaries to-day are relatively much lower than they were ten years ago. This matter should receive the thoughtful attention of the Board and if possible adjustments in salaries should be made so that the teachers may receive a fair and just return for their labors and at the same time be able to improve themselves professionally and make some provision for support during the years of retire- ment."
TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
The Vermont State Teachers' Retirement System went into operation July 1st, 1919. This law was enacted to provide for the retirement of teachers on account of age or disability with an annual allowance. The teacher contributes not ex- ceeding five per cent of her salary, which amount is doubled by the State and placed at interest to the teacher's credit. The income of this amount with other contributions from the state and from the retirement association will provide a life annuity when the teacher retires. The system is voluntary, but forty-two of the teachers of this city have come under its provisions.
The law in many respects is a distinct advance over simi- lar laws enacted in other states and is likely to become the
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ANNUAL REPORT
model for future legislation on this subject. The question which should confront the teacher not already a member of the Retirement System is not whether she can afford to come, but rather whether she can afford not to come, under the provi- sions of this law.
At the last annual meeting of the city the citizens by a very large majority voted a pension of $25 per month to Rose C. Carrigan, but her death occurred before she entered into the benefits of that pension. The citizens at the next annual meeting will again be asked to vote upon the question: "Shall the Board of School Commissioners be authorized to grant a pension of $25 per month for one year beginning April 1st, 1920, to a teacher in this city in accordance with Section No. 1218 of the General Laws of the State which provides for the pensioning of a teacher who has taught in the public schools for over 30 years." The teacher named in this article has taught in the public schools of Vermont in excess of 32 years and in this city for 27 years, and during the greater part of her service in this city she acted as one of our grade principals. For two years she has been disqualified on account of sickness, and at present she is an inmate of a Sanitorium in this state. She was one of our most worthy teachers and I believe it most fitting that the voters of the city should recognize her service and her worth by granting her this pension.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School has had a successful year. The number of students in attendance, as well as the number of non-resi- dent pupils and the amount of tuition collected, exceed all previous records. The instruction in all departments shows efficiency; the scope of work and the influence of the school is continually being enlarged to more fully meet the demands of the community and to render the greatest possible benefits to all its students. The per capita cost along with general ad- vances in conducting all similar institutions has increased to that extent that it would seem proper to re-adjust the tuition
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CITY OF RUTLAND
rates so that non-resident pupils should bear a larger propor- tion of the expense of maintaining the school.
The Principal's report to me contains so many points of vital interest not only to the patrons but also to the manage- ment of the school that I quote from his report as follows :-
"The building is in better shape than at any previous time. Most of the problems of heating and ventilating have been solved. There is still a lack of air control in the rooms of the new part of the building.
EQUIPMENT.
Several items have been added to the equipment of the school the past year; a new balance for Chemistry, dishes and mirror for Domestic Science, and some reference books. A teachers' professional library has been started and should be increased as fast as circumstances permit. The equipment for Science is very small and should be enlarged somewhat. If work in Manual Training is resumed next year some additional equipment will be needed. If classes continue large, the pur- chase of an opaque projector for use in English should be con- sidered in order that compositions may be thrown on the screen and corrected by the classes and teacher. Entire classes would then get the benefit of the correction of each written paper.
Many of the typewriters are getting old and will have to be replaced soon.
The piano placed in the Assembly Hall by the Parent Teachers' Association has been a source of stimulation to bet- ter efforts in music.
INDUSTRIAL COURSE.
The part time Industrial Course is now working well. In spite of Federal Aid the cost per student is excessive. I feel that the boys taking this course are getting much more benefit than they would get from other work, and several have been enabled to stay in school who otherwise could not.
COMMERCIAL WORK.
We believe we are now getting a better product from our Commercial Department than before because we are getting
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ANNUAL REPORT
a better selection of students, and giving practically all the commercial work in the last two years, where it will be fresh in practice when students leave school.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY WORK.
From the last three classes 57 students have entered reg- ular college courses. All but four of these are still in college, and none of these four left because of failure. The majority of these are in Vermont colleges, but the list also includes Yale, Smith, Hamilton, Colgate, Holy Cross, Wellesley, Sim- mons, Columbia, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Harvard Dental School, Cornell, Dartmouth and some others.
GENERAL COURSE.
After providing for College Preparatory, Commercial, In- dustrial, and Domestic Science students, we have left a con- siderable number who are taking work to get the best general education the school can give, and another group who are in school simply because it is the socially correct thing to go to school rather than to do something else. Most of this trouble is traceable directly to parents who seem to believe that if their children can spend a few years under a high school roof they can always thereafter wear a white collar, and depend upon society to support them in a position of dignity and ease. All parents should realize that a student gets out of an educa- tion what he puts into it. The school can direct and encourage his work, but it is his work and not that of the school that gives him such an education as will fit him for a serviceable and remunerative place in society. It is the work done outside of school hours at home that makes the difference between success and failure.
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