Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-15
OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
II is frequently said by the older teachers
and principals who have served many years
in the city schools that the young women
who are coming in each year are the real
and greatest obstacle to the establishment
Of a successful annuity or benefit fund for
teachers who have served out their useful
ness or become dependent. In speaking Of
this one CT the older teachers said recently
These girls seem to think that any sys-
TEN for the maintaining Of which they
might be ever so little taxed would be an
imposition upon them because they do not
happen TO be, at present. in need Of any
such assistance themselves.
They seem to be strangely imT q wildcat
for women who have taken up the profess
sion OF teaching and It is deploral p, but n
fact nevertheless IS, that a surprising num-
Der Of them look upon their work In the
school room as merely a temporary thing
and they do not seem inclined to subscribe
to the support Of any teachers benefit or
ganizatlon that they do not expect to profit
by personally. The odd part Of 1t is that
comparatively few OF these young teachers
have anything definite in prospect beyond
the school room and are just looking ahead
in n vague sort OF way, taking it for
granted that they will marry, or that some
thing else. equally uncertain, will happen
to relieve them Of any future dependence
upon a teachers benefit fund. This should
not be so. and It is not so in all cities, for
I have investigated the matter thoroughly.
II is a much discussed fact that a large
percentage Of the women who take UP
teaching as a profession never marry and
this percentage is increasing each year. u
is not wholly a selfish interest that makes
us older teachers anxious for the establish
ment Of such a benefit fund, but rather our
experience. and since this matter has been
agitated during the last ten years, es>
pecially, l find the teachers who were be-
ginners at that time, as earnest as we
older ones in their wish for such provision
as other cities have"
It Is estimated that there are fewer pu-
pills enrolled in the grammar schools Of
Chicago than in any other large city in
America. the enrolment averaging forty
three pupils to each teacher. In New York
City there are fifty pupils to each teacher;
In Philadelphia ffty-three, in Boston nifty
in Baltimore ffty-one, in st. Louis nifty
eight, in Cleveland forty-four, in Buffalo
forty-seven, in San Francisco forty-tvo, In
Cincinnati forty-six. In Washington the
number runs as low as forty-one, while in
Milwaukee 1t is forty-six.
The teachers OF New York City are con-
templating the erection of a club house, and
to this end a committee of 100 teachers,
members OF the Teachers association, have
been appointed to Interview the other teach
ers to ascertain the inclination Of the ma
Ia l. .I ~
amount that can be raised for such a pur-
pose.
OF the 1904 teachers in the public schools
Of Indiana 1,1S5 are graduates from col
leges or universities, 1.274 from state nor
NAL schools, 1,165 from private normal
schools and lis have had no training aside
from the common school education.
A splendid new building is being erected
in New York City to be known as the James
Speyer Experimental school, and Is to be
conducted under the direction of the Teach
ers' college. The model building is TO cost
500, 900. which was given for this purpose
by Mr.. and Mrs. James Speyer. The Idea
is to extend the work of the school into
the families of the children. There will
be In connection with the school clubs and
classes, and resident teachers will instruct
the parents of the children after school
hours in domestic economy and kindred
subjects.
In a recent article In the New York
Times Isabel r.. Wallach presents the sub
ject of deficient children in a manner that
must interest all primary teachers. Since
the institution of public schools these I'M
! forfupataa hava had the mana ~ Iaes ayvn
pathetic attention of the primary teachers
who are able to do little for them. after all
even in carrying out the experiments thai
many would be interested in making. II IL
the special provision for and instruction Of
these children that Miss Wallach especially
|, considers. She points out that II they were
imbeciles they would be provided for, but
, only being deficient they have to take theiI
chances in the regular classes, where a Ger
/, tain amount Of work has to be accomplished
in a limited time, the unfortunates profit.
ing but little, while II special provision
were made for them the most might b,
made OF what intellect they have. England
Germany and Belgium have a system o.
auxiliary classes for these children fl
|, which the lessons are individual and al,
ways short. Intellectual exercises are com
bined with manual training and very Otter
the child that cannot learn arithmetica
processes in the regular classes learns then
in knotting cords or filling bean bags II
1 the classes OF constructive exercises.
i The Teachers Retirement Fund Of th'
state OF New Jersey is maintained by a sys,
TEN of voluntary payments by the teacherI
throughout the state and a certain percent
age Of each years salary makes one eligible
to the benefits of the fund. The plans ant
i NunrEfn0a Of this avafam vara racant1,
presented before the Educational association
OF Newark by Miss K. A. Allen OF Hoboken
who is deeply interested in this work.
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT