Monday, September 27, 2010

Schoolwagon Drivers Say Pay Is Too Small - 1915

Two quit their Jobs and Others are Employed.

Board Hears of Necessity of Soon increasing Room at Central High School.

Giving as their reason that insufficient wages were paid for drivers on transportation routes recently established in Hamilton county, tow drivers have resigned since the rural school opened. Supt. J. L. Hair at yesterday's meeting of the high school board told of the resignation of A. J. McWilliams, driver on the Bakewell-to-Soddy route. His resignation was accepted and the contract awarded to A. W. Bryant for $34 a month, the same price paid to McWilliams. It was stated that this was the second resignation within the month, the other having been J. H. Johnson, employed by the grammar school board. Another man was secured to take his place and the residents of Tyner made up the difference in salary between the figure set by the board and that asked by the driver.

The superintendent reported that 1,112 pupils are enrolled in the high schools of the county. Of this number 712 are at Central; 114 at Soddy; 87 at Hixson; 68 at Sale Creek; 678 at Tyner, and 64 at Lincoln colored school. Every school showed an increase over last year except Lincoln High and that was said to be due to the failure of many of the eighth grade pupils in the grammar schools to make their grade.

Mr. Hair called attention to the problem confronting the board at Central High school. The rapidly increasing enrollment, he said, would necessitate steps being taken to enlarge the building next year. The commercial department has already been enlarged by tearing out two partitions, and the board authorized further repairs of this kind in order to relieve the congestion in two class rooms.
On account of extending the domestic science and domestic arts courses to the seventh and eighth grades the board was compelled to elect an additional teacher at Lincoln High. Miss Ada McFarland was given the position, and Mrs. T. A. Rhue was given the class in English literature.

Among the routine matters taken up were:

Prof. O. C. Kirkman at Central, authorized to install new heating plant in manual training department, not to cost over $350.
Dr. Byrd, authorized to purchase additional tools for manual training department at Lincoln High, cost not to exceed $19.50.
Prof. Hair authorized to contract for repairs on the barn at Sale Creek.
Miss Alice Taylor officially elected Spanish teacher at Central.
Two typewriters were purchased for commercial department at Central.

Chattanooga Daily Times, September 25, 1915.

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