The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29
EARNEST PLEA FOR
RETIREMENT BILL

I When the teachers retirement bill
was under considera ton by the Senate
Committee on Finance. one of the most
practical and effective pleas for its pas
sage was made by Miss Mary E. Fray
ser. one of the public school teachers
of Re -aand. She -a.4. in part:
Inquiry has been made concerning
the sentiment of the teachi !. body in
Virginia to this retirement bill. IN
November. at the Educational Confer
ence held in Roanoke. each of the va
rious associations which go to make
up the whole great conference pass
ed resolutions favorable to the estab-
h1nment of such fund. and appointed
a joint committee to further this end.
The Richmond appointee OF the state
Teachers Association went right to
work. The committee which has the
honor to appear before you was form
ed. J. procured data from States and
cities where such funds are in sue
cessful operation. studied the laws
governi them, and the amended bin
before you is the result. Feeling fully
tn, gravity of our undertaking, we
have taken counsel with State Sup
erintendent Eggleste :, State Secretary
son. We are in close touch with the
achers, and have an accurate knowl-
edge of educational conditions through
out the State. 1t has not been pos
sible to submit this identical bill to
any such representative gathering of
teachers as congregated in Roanoke, In
November. But the retirement bill up-
peared in the Virginia Journal of Edu
cation for February. This publication
is mailed each month to 5000 of the
public school teachers of the State.
In addition, we have mai.ed a copy
of this bill to every county and city
superintendent. and to every high
schot principal in the state, with LETT
ter asking that they lay the matter be-
fore their teachers and urge them to-
express themselves concerning 1t.
Over eight hundred repllesfhave been.
received by this committee; SO per cen
tum of said replies have Endorsed the
measure; the remaining per centum
are opposed. Their opposition has add
ed to our sense of gravity of our re-
sponsibility. Our faith in the wisdom
of the measure, and the cordial sup
port of the otner 9S per centum, have
nerved us for continued effort.
AS the mandatory tax constitutes
the chief ground for objection, we
wish to state that where the tax has
been voluntary the funds have been
insufficient to meet the demand upon
them: and such associations have been
failures. These facts we obtained from
the United States Commissioner of Edu-
cation. Our own experience substan-
tiates his judgment. Six years ago
our city corps organized voluntary
association for the retirement Of teach
ers. Far more than half of the teach
tS,1r f0r !,
becoming members. Yet the funds In
hand were insufficient to meet the
demands, and the organization died
natural DEATH
The plan we submit Is practicable.
1t is in successful operation IN other
States 1t need not be unsuccessful,
therefore, in Virginia,
Any objection to this measure is
almost certain 70 come from tho young
teacher. AS the rank and file of our
teachers are women, I base the fol-
lowing calculations on their salaries.
The female contribution to this fund.
at L per cent, will vary from rs cents
to s7,15 per annum. If the teacher
marries after few years service. she
will be, most likely we'll cared for,
lifted above want. She may we'll re-
iolce that she has contributed towards
!alleviating distress and elevatinE tho
profession but recently hers. 1t She
continues to teach, her total contrlbu-
tion to the fund at the end of twenty
five years will amount to from s1S.75
at per cent. on minimum salary now
obtaining, to $i7S.75 on maximum SAL
airy. In either case she Will receive
more than her total contribution the
first year she becomes an annuitant.
The smaller the salary, the greater
A L. .,te.~ a1.la.
III ia a hardship to deduct 1b cents per
month from a salary of slb, yet 1t
lis this class OF wage earners to whom
1.-THE retirement fund would be the great
/ est blessing.
The ST. Louis Board OF Education