The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29


virginia met her obligations? The vast
majority OF the teachers corps Of the
State do not receive diving salary.
The average annual wage of the Vir-
ginia public schood teacher to-day is
s216.26. This figure Is an increase
over that obtaining two years ago.
AT the end OF the teacder's working
years-+having profted by the servants
efficient service with such pecuniaryI
return--shail Virginia refuse to con-
problem which ccnfronts that worn
out servant?
1t has been said that this Is a cru |
SADIE. founded upon sentiment. This
is true. but It has righteousness and pub |
lie utility as it's basic principle. It'll
was sentiment In favor of freedom. |
rather than submission to oppression, |
which led to the founding of Tits
great republic. IT seems to me that
good Judgment and high morality, isl
the fundamental of every movement
that time has justineu
The teacher has at present no cheer
full outlook for the future She fears
the approach of old age hand in hand
with poverty. am fully persuaded
that an enormous amount of energy
is wasted from the mere dread of pow
erty. Remove the anxiety concern
ing the future which clouds the lives
of so many OF our teachers. and am
positive that the results will be worth
noting. Constant fear OF the future Is
not a. spur to progressive effort. but
a barrier instead. Let us do our best
to enable teachers TO enter on their
life-work without fear or misgivng.
That h. al - -rtt, \, ,oI,,
up to 1t unreservedly and to become
year by year more valuable to the
State. The intending teacher might
thus say. Here is noble calling in
which for years + can earn a respect
able living. and then. when old age
comes on and possibly falling health.
even at the worst, | shall not starve."
The teacher is the foundation and
the soul of the public school system.
and the only hope for its usefulness.
Sooner or later we must offer induce
ments for the kind of teacher we need.
1t has been urged in certain quarters
that an adequate increase In salary is
a better means TO the end than re-
tirement fund. That 1t is the best
means is nndeniable, but at infinitely
greater cost to the State. Such an in
crease Is not now obtainable. But II
the glad day of adequate salaries were
to dawn Tomorrow, the old teacher
would not profit by It, Like Moses
she would only view the promised land
from the top of Mount Pisgah.
1t has been asserted that pensions
for public school teachers will prove
an entering wedge for general sys
tenn OF pensions for all public en-
ployes. Precisely the same argument
might have been used against pensions
for Confederate veterans. or the es-
Establishment of Soldiers Homes.
But suppose we did want to extend
the pension system to public employees
Who else would there be to profit by
such system? County. Local and
State. executive, Legislative and judi
cial officers are elected by the people
or by the Legislature for fixed terms,
and appoint their own subor6iinates,
who usually go into and out of office
with them The teachers tenure is
secure as long as her work is of a
high grade OF excellence. Her salary
| Is small but her position Is not af-
fected by poitics---at least not in the
Old Dominion. Therefore the teach
ers constitute class unto themselves.
If what we ask is class Legislation.
then in rebuttal + would say that the
public school system itself is class
Legislation IN favor OF the young. The
State taxes the childless man; and the
man with much property bears more
THAN proportionate share per capita
lof taxation to support our schools. Yet
the public school system of Virginia
was founded by the father of the
Democratic party, and to-day consti-
tutes the national bulwark against
Ignorance and incompetency.
THO two eytrames of life mako their
appeal to you. II the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia. in its wisdom. creates
the fund provided for in the Teachers
Retirement Bill, the young child Will
be benefited no less than the worn
out teacher. That such needs be met
is but an act of tardy justice. not Of
fensive class legislation, and not
fraught with danger to the State. As
Patrick Henry said upon memorable
occasion, IF this be treason. make the
most of it,