Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-05-22

~~~>~S~ ~ - tA-A bAC 4a4udl h0uOfE OF u
Baxter, Superintendent of Public Instrc
ton Of New Jersey, for the School Yea
of 1901.
Though the public is interested in th,
teacher and has fair conception Of hi
responsibilities it is not accustomed tc
apply the test of putting itself in his place
and for this reason fails to gain correct
appreciation OF his environment.
| When we consider the matter of making
provision for the proverbial and inevitable
rainy day which awaits the teacher even
more surely than it does those engaged in
other occupations, we usually hear the
trite remark: let him look out for him
self, as others don While the teacher is at
liberty to practice economy to well-nigh
painful degree, it is not his privilege to be
provident, for, barring a few exceptional
cases, his salary is not sufficient to meet
both requirements Of the public as to its
standard of living and the memorable de-
mands made upon his slender purse by the
necessity OF self-improvement
There is, on the part of many, a very
commendable disposition to deal sympa-
thetically with the teacher whose mental
and physical powers are falling, but much
| Of the consideration thus far shown has
been sadly misdireeted. Though prompted
by humane motives the employment of
teachers after their vitality is almost ex-
hausted and their services have become
undesirable, Is both grievous mistake and
lamentahle use of public funds. 1t not
only affords no relief from the ever-increas-
| ing and fatal burden, but robs the child of
golden opportunities.
An intense appreciation of these abnor-
NAL and unfortunate conditions gave rise,
on the part of the teachers themselves, to
an earnest and worthy endeayor in the line
Of self-help, as well as larger service to the
State, and the outcome was the Teachers
Retirement Fund. This Association, au-
thorized by act Of Legislature 1896, has a
present membership Of 2, 1856, an assured
annual income of nearly $4,000 and
aggregated assets Of 100000. Even with
this suspicious beginning, unless its friends
shall work INCREASINGLY to add to its mem
bership, and through other approved means
materially augment its income, the fund
cannot long continue to meet its increasing
obligations. There are already so many
applications for retirement that the Board
is compelled to limit annuities to those
whose disability is the most pronounced
and whose necessity is the most extreme. A
dozen or more applications are now under
consideration, and many times this number
of teachers who have not asked to be re-
tired, are hrayely carrying q daily burden
to which they must ere long succumb. 1t
is earnestly hoped that for these, provision
can be made before it is too late.
OF the forty=seyep to whom annuities
have been granted, seven have already
died Thouph if il a causa for deem regret
that help was 80 long delayed, it is still
some Satisfaction TO know that through the
agency OF the FUND they were delivered
from consuming anxiety during their last
days, and that comforts were provided
which, without Its kindly aid, whould have
peen unavallaple:
1t IS also pleasant thought that the
fund mas solved most perpiexlng problem
Tor many humane school boards, and has
taken from many elass-rooms presence
when, thQpgh .loyea ana honored because
Oh former serylee ana assaclapiohs, nag De-
come a ~ SUBJECT for sympathy ana tolera-
tlon ratner Inan a source OF heip ana IN
splratlon. NOT is ~ less agreeable 20 renect
that several OF the surviving annultants
nave greatly improved IN heaitn ana spirits,
ana tnab 10 an nave peen gwen IN moder,
ate degree, oobn tne mencai anu pnyslcai
felieI 20 Wnicn tney are Justly entlGieo;
Although 'ne membership Vi ene runo
mas not increased SO raploly as coulo De oe-
sileu' anu 'ne lece,pes ilon iiiehuly anu
oenesoaeno s9u LIE .avo noo 1een ~ siea'
az snS:o,paveu sSlai uon soou nf's oeen az
coniplisneu. oenelal interest nas pee1
az bo - 9 nosG a,aan 4hst anu
nee Deeu SrttSy 'raO un. .i,
IeaSieis snaii leeelse saia[ies Nae WIN
onaHip eheM Ffoetho w pnpAi'oivoo
asalnso eAe hay " waning Fuaets' sonie
uouDl l1iisnip eiia os'ee a"'o Pfos4sion siiouiu
NC ihaue.
oiioe One es0aoiisiin1en0 " 0iie unu i0s >
iIlenus anu plonoCels nave constantly urseu
l's lioie general suppoi1 On que pare ol sl,e
teacners. Inc present. membership VI z, 100
Is pue 90 70 per eene,oi tue hunlpel ol seach-
ers empioyeo l',oolJ J. MANY oelese tnao
II ehe 1eacheis were more uhi'eu ~ ies
maintenance, greater interest," wouiu pe
taken IN IL Dy those VINO are Dotn generous
ana PoWerlnl 20 aia anp lar more liberal
support N9ula pc reeelvee from suen
souiee. ut1eIs asseip ppae y tAe pubic,
the prlnolpal nenehclary, would oontflpute
Its rlghtlul snare and thus insure the sue
cess OF the Fund, large majority OF the
teachers would De encouraged TO become
members. Both supposltlons are entirely
correct, and both should now De achieved
results. Let them become such and the
success OF worthy enterprise Will be as
sured and great and permanent good will be
accomplished.
To all who think with sufficient breadth
and clearness to appreciate present con-
ditions, it is evident that some humane
method of dispensing with the service of
superannuated teachers is an essential fea-
ture of an efficient public school system.
In the educational, as in the military force,
only the trained and the sturdy should re-
main In the ranks. When his powers are
spent, the teacher. like any other self
respecting citizen, should be able to retire
upon the results OF his own INDUSTRY and
thrift While his compensation renders
this lmpractleable, ne snoula, at the least,
n after