Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-10
TO RETIRE TEACHERS
Local Board of Education
Urges the Step.
WILL ASK PASSAGE OF BILL
Outlines Plan for Pensioning Super
animated Instructors.
PAYMENT PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS
Tribute by Superintendent Stuart to
Prof. Colliere-Use of Port
able Structures.
PAYMENT PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS

Steps will be taken at once by the
board of education to persuade Congress.
if possible, to pass bill providing for
the retirement of veteran teachers on
pensions. Plans to that end were out
lined at a meeting in the Franklin build
ing yesterday afternoon.
1t was announced by Secretary Hine
that arrangements had been made to pay
the teachers for the first half of De-
cember before Christmas: and the board
passed resolution suspending the rule
to allow such to be done. A plan for
giving unemployed graduates of the To-
cal normal schools positions in the night
schools until positions are available in
the day schools was Endorsed.
When the meeting was called to order
| by Vice President W. V. Cox it was
noted that President Oyster, w. D.
Hoover and ]. F. Cook were absent. The
first matter considered was a report by
Supt. Stuart on the death of Prof. Lu-
Glen E. c. Colliere, teacher of French in
the high schools.
Tribute to Prof. Colliere.
Supt Stuart paid tribute to the de-
ceased, saying. in part:
PROF. COlliere'S connection with the
schools extended over a period of about
fourteen years, during which time he per-
formed distinguished service as a teacher.
as head Of a department. and again as A
teacher. and won the love and respect
of his colleagues and his pupils by his
fine qualities as a man and an unusual
skill as All instructor Prof. ColliereS pa
tient loyalty to his superintendent, my
predecessor, and to his board, under adj
versity, has afforded an example worthy
to be initiated by all of us who would
be public servants rather than mere
place seekers. / am told, too. by those
Who know about his family life that he
was a man who made great sacrifices for
Others"
The members of the board expressed
approval of the sentiment of the superin-
tendent.
A second report by the superintendent
had to do with the. appointment of a
successor to Prof Colliere. it being ex-
will be hard to find 1t was recommend
ed that a special examination be held. and
that a salary of $1,000 per year be Of
fered.
THE superintendent uses the word
man in speaking of a successor to Prof.
Col1iere,' Mrs. Mussey remarked. That
does not mean that women are not eligi-
BILE to take the examination, does it?'
THE term is flexible, meaning either a
man or women" explained the Superin-
tendent.
Changes in Building Plans.
Changes In the plans Of two new school
buildings for which appropriations have
been made by Congress and which will
be constructed under direction of Dis
trict officials were recommended by the
committee on buildings and sites. in a re-
port read to the board. The stand taken
by the committee was approved. The re-
port will be forwarded to the Commits
sioners.
The plans for the new Garfield School
and for the new johnson annex were
considered. AS to the Garfield School,
the committee recommended that addi-
tional exits from the first floor be pro-
vtded to carry out the provisions OF the
law requiring four main exits: that the
risers Of the stairways be not more than
six and one-half inches in height. instead
OF seven inches, as provided in the plans;
that classroom book closets be built in
the cloakroOms; that classrooms be TWEEN
ty-fve feet wide, instead of twenty four
feet, the plans calling for rooms one foot
narrower than those Of proper size now in
use: that a safe place for the storage Of
gasoline be provided: that the domestic
science room be piped for water and sew
age. and that the city sewer system be
extended to the school.
For the Johnson annex the committee
recommended that additional exits from
the main floor and from the basement be
provided; that the riSerS OF the stairs be
not more than SIX and one-haf inches in
height; that dreproOf partition be put
In the furnace room instead of wooden
one, as provided by the plans, and that
the classrooms be twenty-five feet wide.
Discussion of Retirement Bills.
nicN1SSinn NJ hn Zoo hoyc rot ont
bills before Congress followed. Vice Pres
ident Cox explained the boards bill and
the Madden bill. both Of which are now
before Congress.
The committee on retirement OF teach
ers." said Mr.. Cox. following the bust
ness example OF progressive corporations
and precedents set by various cities and
states in the retirement Of their public
school teachers, drafted bill for the re-
tirement of teachers which met your ap-
prevail and was forwarded, through the
Commissioners of the District, to the
chairman of the Senate and House Dis
trict committee, with favorable recon-
mendatfon.
This bill required a sum equal to 11s
per cent of annual salaries of teachers
and officers placed in a fund by the
United States treasurer. A certain per
cent is required to be deducted from the
salaries OF teachers and placed to credit
Of same fund. etc, such as that not more
than $50 be deducted from the salary
of a principal Of a graded school or a
teacher in the single year. and not more
than $40 from any supervising principal
or principal of a normal, high or manual
training school.
Senator Gallinger introduced the bill
in the Senate. Mr.. Smith in the House
of Representatives.
Course to Be Followed.
"The committee on retirement of teach
ers desires to know what course is TO be
followed by the board Of education in
looking to the passage Of this most i'm
portant measure. what course is to be
followed by those interested in the public
schools. what course is open for the
teachers.
The local press has editorially Endorsed
this measure, for which we feel grateful
and we hope they will continue in their
splendid work.
Let me again say. in the language of
William McAndrew. the committee favors
| this bill. not as a charitable measure for
the personal benefit Of teachers. but as a