Page images
PDF
EPUB

Both our State sales and income taxes have been raised 50 percent during the past year and in order to meet our forthcoming local school budget a substantial county real estate tax increase will be required. With the rapidly increasing school age population the ability to pay for the full cost of education becomes an increasingly serious problem for the local governments.

We endorse the principle that funds for the support of education be considered a permanent and proper expenditure of the Federal Government.

Sincerely yours,

Hon. CLEVELAND BAILEY,

OLIVE HUNTOON, Legislative Chairman.

THE AMERICAN PARENTS COMMITTEE, INC.,
New York, N.Y., March 13, 1959.

Chairman, Subcommittee on General Education, House Education and Labor Committee, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. BAILEY: I have just returned from a trip abroad to learn that you have closed your hearings on the various education bills before your committee. I hasten to write this letter which I hope you will make a part of the record of the hearings.

My colleagues did not ask to take your time and that of the committee to testify in person because our position is well known and we can add little to what we have said to you many times before.

The American Parents Committee has for years worked hard for Federal assistance to help educate the youth of this country. As you know, we supported vigorously the National Defense Education Act which was passed last year.

This past December our board voted as one of its major objectives: "Legislation to Relieve the Shortage of Classrooms."

This means we can work for Federal aid and for school construction but not for teachers' salaries. You have several bills before your committee which have provisions for school construction. We are not supporting or opposing any one of them.

We do, however, urge your committee to consider all the bills and to come out quickly with a committee bill which you believe satisfactory. We assure you that the American Parents Committee will do everything in its power to pass whatever part of that bill it believes will cause schoolrooms to be built and to be built quickly.

Sincerely,

GEORGE J. HECHT, Chairman.

CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION,
Chicago, Ill., March 10, 1959.

Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,

House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

MY DEAR MR. BAILEY: The Chicago Teachers Union, an organization of nearly 11,000 Chicago public schoolteachers, urges your support and that of your committee for the Murray-Metcalf Federal aid bill.

The crises of teacher and building shortages for the country, as a whole, is so acute that only a bill of the scope and general application of the Murray-Metcalf legislation will bring an end to these shortages in time to prevent a most serious and lasting effect on our schoolchildren currently enrolled. Any year of substandard experience for any child is a year lost forever to that child.

Even in Chicago, despite a series of $50 million of school bond issues and an increase in educational fund expenditures of nearly 50 percent, teacher shortages still hamper the school program; double shifts still exist and new buildings are still urgently needed for new and rapidly mushrooming districts within the city. These conditions are present despite a very large local effort that has resulted in groaning property tax rates.

Economically, less fortunate cities and towns around the State have even more critical problems in maintaining quality in their schools.

Let me assure you of the solid conviction of Chicago teachers that Federal support for schools of our country is urgently necessary.

Sincerely yours,

JOHN M. FEWKES, President.

PHILADELPHIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS,
Philadelphia, Pa., March 9, 1959.

Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,

House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The school district of Philadelphia began a building program soon after World War II, but limited by

(a) Necessity of keeping within constitutional debt limit.

(b) Advisability of keeping debt service to a percentage of the budget that would not take too much from instruction.

Today Philadelphia is supporting passage of a constitutional amendment in the legislature to raise the debt limit because of

(a) Overcrowding in the area affected by migration from the South. Prefabricated classrooms are being used in school yards to reduce the number of part-time classes.

(b) Overcrowding and part-time sessions in the areas in which young parents are settling.

(c) Need of replacing oldest buildings.

(d) Drive to correct hazards since the Chicago school fire.

Even if the constitutional amendment passes the legislature and later is ap proved in a statewide referendum, there will be a serious financial problem. Philadelphia has a severe shortage of teachers, especially in the secondary schools and in special classes, largely because its salary schedule is lower than in the competing areas where classes are smaller and population more nearly homo geneous. Philadelphia needs classrooms, but it must also get a thousand qualified teachers. At present this school district cannot meet the national need to give the best education possible to some 230,000 pupils who live in this city. Respectfully yours,

CELIA PINCUS, President.

GARY TEACHERS UNION, LOCAL NO. 4,
Gary, Ind., March 7, 1959.

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY: This is to urge your support for the Murray Metcalf aid bill.

Federal aid for teachers' salaries and housing are very much needed in Gary, Ind. The city's population has grown so rapidly that the local community cannot meet the rising costs of education, especially needed raises in salary for teachers.

This booming population also needs adequate housing. Large sections of Gary are in need of a good slum clearance and redevelopment program. Sincerely,

ROBERT J. RAZUMICH, President of Local No. 4, Gary Teachers Union.

[blocks in formation]

Whereas the maintenance and extension of public education is necessary to the preservation of our democratic way of life and to our very existence as a Nation;

and

Whereas the public schools are in dire straits because of general apathy and because those in control of our schools had failed to foresee increased population and the inflationary spiral; and

Whereas the age-old principle of local and State taxation for schools can no longer operate in an economy where approximately 75 cents of every tax dollar is paid to the Federal Government; and

Whereas more money must be allocated to schools if able young men and women are to enter the teaching profession, if those now in the teaching profession are to remain and continue to give skilled services, and if facilities and materials are to be adequate and conducive to learning; and

Whereas failure of the Congress to pass Federal-aid-to-schools legislation now will have catastrophic implications for our future as a people: Therefore be it Resolved, That Local 59, Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, at its regular meeting calls upon the Congress to give immediate and urgent consideration of the Murray-Metcalf bill; and be it further

Resolved, That Local 59, Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, communicate with Minnesota Senators and Representatives demanding their active support of the bill and their vote for the bill; and be it further

Resolved, That the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council be asked to give their support to the Murray-Metcalf bill and to communicate such support to the Washington office of the AFL-CIO and to Minnesota Congressmen. Respectfully submitted.

A. JAMES HELLER,

President. By CHARLES E. BOYER, Executive Secretary.

Mr. CARL J. MEGEL,

SUPERIOR FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, LOCAL No. 202,

President, American Federation of Teachers,
Chicago, Ill.

Superior, Wis., March 9, 1959.

DEAR CARL: I have made a careful survey of the school needs in this area, and after a long interview with our local superintendent, Mr. Shaw, I am prepared to issue the following statement relative to the immediate needs of the Superior public school system, during the next 5-year period:

Building replacement:

1. Howe Elementary School (built 1906), $1.2 million.

2. Cooper Elementary School and Orthopedic Clinic (built before 1900), $1.5 million.

3. Superior High School (to replace two older buildings presently in use, and for which the grounds have already been acquired) $5 million. (This would release the best of the two present high schools, to be used in the future as a junior high.)

Total buildings replacement, $7.7 million over the next 5 years.

Upgrading of salaries of instructional staff: We have, at the present time, 236 teachers and administrators on the instructional staff. We have already negotiated a raise of $300 across-the-board for next year, plus our regular increments of $200, or a total of a $500 raise for all teachers on the present salary schedule. Responsible educators of this area are in agreement that a $500 per year increase over the next 5 years is the minimum needed to maintain even the barest minimum standards to attract and hold qualified people. In budget terms this means an item of $118,000 per year, or a total budget increase of $590,000 over the next 5-year period.

1. Total salary increases needed: $590,000 over the next 5 years.

We are certainly heartily in accord with the terms of the Murray-Metcalf bill, and urge you to do everything possible to insure its favorable consideration by the Congress. I have written to six other major systems in the State asking them to send you this information.

Fraternally,

GLENN PARISH.

FALLS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, LOCAL 331,
International Falls, Minn., March 12, 1959.

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY: Our school district now has close to 4,000 students where only a few years ago we had 3,000. In a couple years we will have more.

A new school building was turned down by the voters because of the costtaxes (property) would rise too high. Everyone agrees we must have more schools to house the additional youngsters but object to the load being shouldered by the property owners.

The same is true of teachers' salaries. Whereas we all agree that school salaries must compete with private business in order to obtain the type of people who are and will be good teachers, the resistance to raising the property taxes is too strong.

The Federal Government has additional sources of taxes and can find revenues to provide the additional funds to have school buildings and teachers. As education is our first line of defense, even more today than ever, our Government should provide Federal aid.

As legislative representative for our organization (109 members of 116 total) I am expressing the view of the group as discussed at our past several meetings. Very truly yours,

FRANK LARSON.

BREMERTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, LOCAL No. 336,
Bremerton, Wash., March 8, 1959.

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: Here in Bremerton we are especially interested in the passage of the Murray-Metcalf Federal aid bill.

Our community is a one-industry town, and that one industry is the federally owned Puget Sound Naval Shipyard which, of course, pays no local or State taxes.

To give much needed salary raises and to provide the buildings needed to house the rapidly increasing school population, help such as provided in this bill is absolutely imperative.

Today adequate education is a part of our national defense, and needs national support as well as do our Armed Forces.

We urge your support of the Murray-Metcalf bill.
Yours respectfully,

FLORENCE JUSTIN, President.

PONTIAC FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, LOCAL 417,

Pontiac, Mich.

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: We, in Michigan, feel that in no time in history have we needed Federal aid more than now. The State is bankrupt and the people are very hostile toward more taxation. Although there has been much fanfare in Pontiac over the opening of the fine new Northern High School, other needed buildings and repairs are at a minimum. Many schools are becoming overcrowded since families are increasing at a very fast rate. Teachers' salaries consequently aren't being raised, and Wayne State University and the University of Michigan are admitting publicly the loss of some of their top professors.

Since the situation is serious, we strongly urge your support of the MurrayMetcalf Federal aid bill.

Sincerely,

Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

Mrs. MELVIN SNAIL, President.

LOCAL NO. 482,

THE PATERSON TEACHERS UNION,
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS,
Paterson, N.J., March 9, 1959.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY: Federal aid for school housing is necessary in Paterson, N. J., because;

(1) We have had increase in our public school population of approximately 3,000 within the past 3 years. Our present school housing, which in many cases is over 50 years old, is inadequate.

(2) In September 1958, a school which had been condemned because of its age, had to be hurriedly refurnished to provide housing for about 270 elementary school students.

(3) An urban redevelopment project has had to be planned with a completely new school plant because all the schools in the area are already overpopulated. (4) Our greatest problem is the need for new high school facilities. One high school is already operating on an overlapping 10-period double session beginning before 8 a.m. and ending after 4:30 p.m. Sections of cafeterias are used as study halls. In September a second high school will go on double sessions also.

We need Federal aid.
Respectfully submitted.

SYLVIA SCHEFKIND, President.
LOCAL NO. 571,

WEST SUBURBAN TEACHERS UNION,
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS,

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

Oak Park, Ill., March 9, 1959.

DEAR SIR: The Franklin Park Council, AFT, Local 571, strongly urges you to favorably consider Federal aid for school housing.

Our school district has operated on deficit spending these past 2 years. Federal aid would alleviate this condition, improve teachers' salaries, and attract and retain competent teachers.

Sincerely,

[blocks in formation]

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: Although there is acknowledged growth in the school population in two areas of our town, members of the city council have expressed disbelief concerning the need for new construction. The reason is obvious: It would require the floating of a bond issue, or the raising of an already heavy tax rate to finance such a project.

At the present time, the city is spending approximately $13 million on the construction of a new high school, a cost so great that local authorities are shying away from even considering the modernization of a number of the schools, even though the need is great.

It would seem that just modernizing our school plants is more of a burden than most of our communities can carry. Therefore, if we are to move into a future of adequate schools that are staffed by well-qualified teachers whose salaries are commensurate with those of other professional groups, financial assistance is not only necessary but mandatory.

Respectfully yours,

ANN BROWN, President. AFT, LOCAL No. 662,

CALUMET TOWNSHIP TEACHERS FEDERATION,
Gary, Ind., March 9, 1959.

Representative CLEVELAND M. BAILEY,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
HONORABLE SIR: This letter is a plea for your support of Federal aid for
school housing and teachers' salaries.

Since World War II, we have experienced an explosive growth in population with still greater growth in store with the completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway and new industrial development.

As we are a "bedroom community" with homes of approximately $1,500 average assessment value, property taxes are completely inadequate to support our present 5,000 school population. In fact, we owe to present Government-aid plans much of our present school housing, but we have reached a limit. The State of Indiana is in the process of passing legislation which will be an aid but not a solvent to our problems. The reason for this is that our

« PreviousContinue »