Show Teacher Impasse Aired Here by Vt tat School Supt Dr T H Bell State Super Super- Superintendent Superintendent of Public Instruction Instruction tion speaking at Vernal Rot Rot- Rotary ary Club Thursday of last week said I hope the teach teach- teachers ers wont won't back down He also expressed the hope that schools will open un- un until until til the newly appointed study group completes its work but said he was not sure that they would open when they are supposed to this fall HE POINTED out that schools are arc a state and not a federal function He disclosed ed that he had worked on a merit pay system in his own school district Dr Bell explained that teachers have voted to with with- withhold withhold hold their services Until bet bet- better ter financing of schools is isI I made available We are living in an era of pressure groups and it is a I fact of life that teachers will willbe be willibe organized and will exert willi unified some of which will not be generally pleasing pleas pleas- pleasing ing he commented HE PRAISED the as asa asa a democratic organization and said that it was entering a new era Teachers have a right to organize and exert their in in- in influence fluence he averred There is a difference be be- be between tween teachers withholding their services and a strike he stated Dr Bell admitted that the thelast last state legislature had made the largest appropriation ever made in the history of Utah for schools HE POINTED OUT that teachers are state employees He told of the impartial study committee that is be big ing appointed to study the school problem The superintendent refer refer- referred referred red to the refusal of teachers to sign contracts as an un un- un unprecedented situation in the theU theU U S He said there Is good quality ity education in Utah now but there is some argument as asto asto to what else can be done Under the present system he said a teacher has to go into administration to improve his status Take the Ud lid off the teacher potential he urged Dr Bell rapped the single salary schedule and said a differential was needed such as merit pay lIe He also suggested an ex ex- ex extended tended school year which he said would sol solve vc a serious youth problem of being dor dor- dor mant for three months HE W WARNED that teacher groups would be more mili mili- militant tant in the future Special guests at the meet meet- meeting ing were Dr II H Reese Ander Ander- Anderson son director of pupil person person- personnel personnel nel for Uintah School District Uintah High School Principal Leland G Rex Rondo Har- Har Harmon mon principal of Ashley Val Val- Valley ley Jr High School and Dee Anderson Roy Hoy Munsey was a visiting from Provo |