The Jamesburg record., 1902-05-17

awakened In most important mat
ter, and it has become entirely clea
that until teachers shall receive
salaries that will enable them t.
provide for themselves against the
day of waning powers, some other
reliable and adequate provision should
be made
Since the establishment of the Fund
its friends and promoters have con
stantly urged its more general sup
port on the part of the teachers. The
present membership of 2,796 is bul
thirty six and four ffths per cent. OF
the number of teachers employed
E(7,56D. Many believe that if the
teachers were more united III its
maintenance, greater interest would
be taken i'll it by those who are both
generous and powerful to aid and far
more liberal support would be re-
ceived from such sources. Others
assert that if the public, the princi-
pal beneficiary, would contribute its
righttul share and thus insure the
success of the Fund. large majority
of the teachers would be encouraged
to become members. Both supposi-
tions are entirely correct, and both
should now be achieved results Let
them become such and the success of
a worthy enterprise will be assured
and great and permanent good will
be accomplished.
To all who think with sufficient
breadth and c1earness to appreciate
present conditions, it is evident that
some humane method of dispensing
with the service of superannuated
teachers is an essential feature of an
efficient public school system. IN
the educational, as i'll the military
force, only the trained and the sturdy
should remain 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 in
dustry and thrift. While his com
pensation renders this impracticable,
he should, at the least, feel assured
of support in after years more in
keeping with his worth and work,
than either the cold ministrations of
public charity or humiliating depend
ence upon friends Is not the pos
sibility of such contingency a sad
commentary upon our boasted civil
ization and a conclusive disproval
of the high standard of public senti
ment we profess to maintain
While the striking disparity be-
tween the teachers wage and work
obtains, some safeguard not offensive
to his pride should be provided
against the risk of want in his de
cIining years; not provided as an act
of charity, but as tribute of CRATE
tul appreciation and as a partial rec
ompense for unrequited service. The
present effort of the teachers to assist
their co laborers who are falling out
by the way is we'll nigh pathetic
illustration Of the proverbial sacrifices
of those not blessed with abundant
store for others in distress. 1t is also
an impressive suggestion of the ma
ture of that touch of sympathy that
makes the whole world kin. Shall
we anticipate too much if we indulge
the hope that those "who rock the
cradle of the State, may in this, as
in their daily work, teach more
effectively by example than by pre-
cept?
Wealthy and benevolent men are
giving largely of their bounty for the
establishment and maintenance of
public libraries, and are heaping
gifts Of gold upon our colleges and
universities Already the endow-
ment funds of these institutions reach
far into the millions. While we re
joice in their mnnifcence to the
public generally, and to higher edu-
cation particularly, we cannot but
regret their failure, with few note
worthy exceptions, to recognize a
field of most urgent need, and the
source from which they receive the
greatest benefit. To popular educa
ton, more than to all else, are we
indebted for the safety of person and
property. 1t is the sure basis of the
prosperity of the State and the Ma
ton, and to it are due the many op-
portunities afforded for the accumu-
lalion of wealth Could some of the
bounty yet held with benefcent in
tent be given to provide for the de-
clining years of those who prepare
our youth tor citizenship and service.