Stiffing the Teacher
August 30th, 1922
Dear Miss A.R. Miller
According to my promise on the phone, to-day, I now write. I received your letter last Monday afternoon, which surprised me. In my last letter I gave you unvarnished facts, as to the loneliness of our Teachers quarters - only fit for a young man; or a woman, with her mother for company.
I didn't think you would have the courage to face it, and expected you would refuse the position. I have seen our lady Trustee who asked me to phone you to-day. The other Trustees will be consulted. The question of your brother's prescence will have to be considered.
What is his age?
We only have one bed &c.- If of school age, and you teach him, then our Board must be paid the Ordinance 30 cents a day.- If he is quite young, what protection would he be, to you? (end of p.95)
The main trail to Lac Ste Anne runs close by.- All sorts of men go along it.
We have sheets & blankets for one bed. Eating utensils and table linen to be provided by the Teacher. Our late Teacher, Miss Walls, B.A. (whom the Wabamun Teacher lived with) was hurried off to Alexandra Hospital last Friday. She was a splendid Teacher, but delicate.-
If you decide to take some other School, please write me, at once. When my Board has come to a decision, I will write you again.
Your obedient servant
Thomas Street
P.S. You may show this letter to the Registrar (Mr. Spiers)
T.S.
(96)
September 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Edmonton
Sir
Our Trustees have requested me to write you, re the claim made by our late Teacher (Miss Walls) for full pay, during the seven (7) days she was away from Sylvan in Hospital. She went away, to Edmonton, August 24th and was in bed one day previous to that. This means $28.00 for nothing, which is a serious matter for our poor district. Our Trustees object to pay this $28.00 for several reasons. -
1st Ours is a particularly easy school which could not possibly have impaired her health. Six young children only. She herself once remarked to our Lady Trustee "It is just playing at School to teach Sylvan!"
2nd Miss Walls was sick 2 or 3 days before being taken away. The School was open, but the only pupil of any standing, a Grade V boy, taught the others.
(NOTE: The several lines following, marked by + at beginning and end, were lined through and presumably not in the final draft but are entered here for interest.)
+ 3rd One of the Trustees states that the Teacher entertained friends much during (end of p.98)
the hot weather, and was, generally, very late before retiring to bed. This Trustee was of the opinion that this way of living was the cause of the Teachers breakdown
4th; We are informed that as soon as the 7 days had elapsed, Miss Walls took on the Crossfield School. +
This case, Sir, has learnt us a lesson. In future Agreements I intend inserting a clause. -
"No pay during sickness, when the School is not operated."
The Teacher Agreement is printed all in favour of the Teacher and dead against the poor Taxpayer who has to find the money. Miss Walls salary was paid, in full, up to July 31st. For August, have paid her $50.00 on a/c.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(99)
October 17th, 1922
The Sec. -Treas. of Crossfield S.D.
Sir,
I am requested by my Board to write you for information. On Sept 19th (4 weeks ago) I sent a cheque for $50.00 to Miss M.E. Walls, this being full settlement, up to August 31st. I enclosed two receipts for her to sign. I also enclosed the Teachers Declaration for her to properly execute, and return. I have heard nothing. -
Is she still with you? Has she been working during last month?
Of course the cancelled cheque will prove that we are out of her debt, for I always put on either the face or the back of cheque what it is for. But, we must have the Teachers Declaration to obtain Gov't Grant.
We paid her for 44 days during July & August, although she only worked 37 days for us. -
Unless we receive it, properly filled up, at once, my Board will place the matter in the hands of the Education Department.
Yours faithfully
Thomas Street
(102)
October 25th, 1922
Miss M.E. Walls
Madam
About September 19th I sent you a cheque, for $50.00, in full settlement up to August 31st, 1922. I enclosed the Teachers Declaration, to be properly executed, and the 2 receipts for you to sign, and send to me. - But I have heard nothing from you and was requested by my Board to write and ask the Crossfield Sec. - Treas if you had been, and were, still at Crossfield. I have received an answer in the affirmative, to-day, from him. I thought you might be sick, again.
Now, Miss Walls, your conduct puzzles me. You are not hurting me, and you certainly are not hurting my Board. But, you are doing yourself a lot of harm.
Of course the cancelled cheques will prove that we are out of your debt. It is only a question of the Teachers Declaration, which affects the Government Grant, of $44.00. Unless I hear, quickly, from you to our satisfaction, as soon as the cancelled cheque comes in, I have the authority of my Board to fully place this matter in the hands of the Education Dep't.
Thomas Street
(103)
November 13th, 1922
The Registrar
Department of Education- Edmonton
Sir R 62591.22
I thank you for yours of the 7th inst.
re our late Teacher
Will you kindly read the enclosed copy of the letter sent by me to Miss M.E. Walls, on Oct. 25th?
Will you then let me know what is to be done? I am not inclined to write to her the third time. Will you compel her to send the Teachers Declaration for the 44 days, to you, or will the cancelled cheque suffice to obtain, for us, the Grant?
Upon the backs of the cheques I wrote: -
"This is for balance of Teachers Salary during month of August 1922
23 days at $4.00 = $92.00
Paid Sept. 1st $50.00. Balance due $42.00"
This $42.00 included the $28.00 for the 7 days she was sick. Our present Teacher (Miss Catherine Kirkpatrick) appears to be giving general satisfaction. The Children like her. But, through operating the School, this month, we are mortgaging this terms Grant, to her. We have operated our School since May 1st, right through vacation and the money is all gone.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(106)
February 27th, 1923
The Registrar
Department of Education- Ed
Sir
I have received two cheques, $92.00 less $2.30 as G. Grant. But there is a mistake. Last term we paid $396.00 for Teachers. - i.e. 99 days at $4.00 a day. We have only received Grant for 92 days. You will remember that my Board strongly objected to paying Miss Walls the $28.00 for the 7 days she was supposed to be sick. Although the light & easy work with us certainly could not be any strain on her. -
The Department compelled us to pay this $28.00. Surely, we are not going to lose the Grant, for this 7 days! -
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(109)
March 21st, 1923
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Edmonton
Sir (R6792.23)
re appointment of Teacher
I am requested by my Board to ask the Department to again grant a permit to Miss Catherine Kirkpatrick so that she can go on with her good and successful educational work until June 30th. -
She was only able to use her permit 55 days through the bad weather last Fall. The Children like her and she caused no trouble whatever. We want to re-open School on the 6th day of April. Considering, Sir, we have only six Children to be educated five of whom are half-breeds, the Teacher training is quite (end of p. 110)
immaterial, according to my opinion. The only question of importance is "Will the Teacher, if female, board and lodge at home?" If she can't she is no use to us. No one can take her in.
As you know, Sir, our District is an extremely poor one, there being so few settlers. Last year we could only operate the School seven months, through want of funds. This year, we have lost $7.00 Grant, through our late highly-trained Teachers sickness, although our little work couldn't have made her sick. And it appears we are now called upon by the Department to pay $3.00 a month to Darwell for the High School training of Edith Mudie, who has never attended Sylvan School, and (end of p.111)
whose Father is a Darwell Taxpayer also, although living in the Sylvan District.
In fact, Mr. Mudie is one of our Trustees, and he considers a mistake has been made. He maintains that so long as his daughter attends the Darwell School, where he is a Taxpayer, Sylvan District is not liable for fees. - We have had three paying quarter sections taken away from us last year; but received no equivalent. -
We consider $3.00 a day is quite sufficient to pay our easy worked Teacher and we ask the Minister to allow us to pay that amount only, i.e. at the rate of $630.00 a year.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(112)
March 30th, 1923
R.B. Brooks Esqre B.A.
Inspector of Schools - Stony Plain
Sir
Completed required Form enclosed. On March 21st I wrote the Department.-
"As you know, Sir, our District is an extremely poor one, there being so few settlers. Last year we could only operate the School seven months, through want of funds. This year, we have lost $7.00 Grant, through our late highly-trained Teachers sickness, although our little work couldn't have made her sick. And it appears we are now called upon by the Department to pay $3.00 a month to Darwell for the High School training of Edith Mudie, who has never attended Sylvan School, and
whose Father is a Darwell Taxpayer also, although living in the Sylvan District.
In fact, Mr. Mudie is one of our Trustees, and he considers a mistake has been made. He maintains that so long as his daughter attends the Darwell School, where he is a Taxpayer, Sylvan District is not liable for fees. - We have had three paying quarter sections taken away from us last year; but received no equivalent. -
We consider $3.00 a day is quite sufficient to pay our easy worked Teacher and we ask the Minister to allow us to pay that amount only, i.e. at the rate of $630.00 a year."(end of p.113)
On March 26th the Department wrote. -
"Concerning your suggestion that your district be permitted to pay a salary less than the legal minimum, I may state that this matter should be discussed with Inspector Brooks of Stony Plain. It is somewhat doubtful if your Board can secure a certificated teacher at a salary less than the legal minimum of $840.00 per year. If, however, the Board can secure such a teacher, and at a less rate, and Inspector Brooks is prepared to recommend that the Board be allowed to pay the lower salary, the matter will be given every consideration by the Department."
(File No. - R18102.23)
I know, Sir, you are strong on an extra Grant. But we don't even get all the ordinary Grant, and now we have to pay for High School training. And you have read the Budget Speech and know the terrible financial position of the present Government. Teachers salaries, like all other salaries, must come down. $840.00 ought now to be the maximum not the minimum.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(114)