New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-23
PENSIONS FOR TEACHERS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir In your paper OF December 20 | saw an
article on the subject OF penAoning teachers or
rather not pensionng them. Kindly allow mo the
privilege OF answering some OF the COMMISSION
er's objections to that bill which was intro
Produced into the Assembly several years ago ana
often discussed since In tho first place, he said
at Is the entering wedge OF vns system Of pension
ing throughout all our departments" fos, SO
It should be- Whatever benefits are bestowed upon
New.York teachers should be bestowed upon teacil-
ers Of all the cities. villages and towns IN inc
state who have performed the same amount Of SER
vice. 1t should be state law. In tho second
place. he says: 1t will lead TO reckless cxtrava'
gancc" l really cannot how, as the torn OF
service and the amount Of pension would be resu'
lated by law, and no one could get IL who was not
entitled 70 It, He also says schoolteachng IS not
unusually hard on tho health" and yet so many
break down with nervous prostitution and nave 10
leave the schoolroom entirely And, "in fact IL ID
remarkably easy" wonder II he ever tried III
suppose some teachers do mako easy work OF IT, but
their term OF service is short; they soon get their
discharge Then again, no says: "'fhe teachers
work only five hours day and five days In the
week. Right partly some teach fve hours, ana
some six besides a good deal Of after-schoo work.
Now am sure no Commissioner can be ignorant OK
the cause Of this limit Of days and hours but sun
will Just say for his benefit TINT faithful teacher
u,ust he constantly hearing recit3tons. with eyes
looking over the scho0lroonl TO keep order and ears
wide open to catch the least whisper in the room.
Nerves would have TO DO made OF iron to endure SUCH
watchf activity nine or hours In the day and six
DAYS in the week like the mechanic The Commits
sjoner speaks as II they would have to pension all
school teachers / suppose the Pension Act was IN
tended for the benefit OF those only who had taught
thirty years, and who Ind not much income Prob
ably not moro than one teacher out OF lOOO teaches
that length OF time and besides the pension would
be so small (perlaps not moro than 800 year,
that this wedge" would not DO very formidable
one certainly not large enough 10 split tho state In
two should II At to pass such law some OF
the soldiers OF our late Civil War enlisted, stayed
few months perhaps ye1rs, and came home In pretty
GOOD health Some OF them never saw a battle, yet
they are I think entitled 10 q pension. Now, am
taxpayer and willing that oil soldiers should have
PENSIONS even II they did nothing but enlist. and
think that teachers who have battled thirty years
should have pensions also, most assliredy II they
have not much income. George william Curtis
wrote several years ago in regard TO this blu as fol-
lows Teaching In the public schools is as essential
part OF the public service the discharge OF duty
I'm thc army and navy and the faithful servant In
one branch is entitled to the same consideration ~
his fellow servant In another ANA SOM one adds
that penSiOnng tenciers would MAKE pubic cacn.
Ing an assured career and constantly attract to II
the best teaching talent IN fhe country, when the
feebeness OF old age Is provided for So In my humble
opinion, while the young soldier has pension 10
live on It would be only Just ana right TO give the
to die on Lot the good cause go on. II. c.
schenectady, Jau. ~, 1oJS.