The Irish standard., 1909-03-27
ANNul7IEs FOR TEACHERS.

ANNUiTIES FOR TEACHERS.
There is now pending before the leg
islature of Minnesota a bill for creating
4 retirement fund out of which to
pay superintendent, supervisors, prin-
cipa.s and instructors in the employ
Of the Boards of Education Of st. Paul,
Minneapolis and Duluth, or any other
city which may hereafter have popu-
,ation of more than $4,000 inha bitants.
The bill has been referred to the tri-
I'd on favorably for passage, but up
to time of writing no action has been
taken on it by the legislature. 1t is
to be hoped that the bill will pass with
out encountering opposition on the part
OF any of the members Of either house.
The Irish Standard has examined the
bill and sees no reasons for objecting
to it. The teachers themselves desire
to contribute to the fund out of their
salaries in order that when they re-
ire from their professional duties on
account of physical disability they may
have something to fall back on to keep
he wolf from their doors. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that there is no class
IF public servants more deserving Of
the gratitude of the people than the
teachers of our future men and women.
They spend years in preparation for
their work and perform their duties
faithfully and well, often in poorly ven-
tilated buildings where they inhale the
vitated atmosphere and lose their
health.
In the British Islands the govern
ment retires the teachers Of the public
schools on pensions sufficient to amply
crovide for their wants in their de-
clinitg years. In this country fifteen
states have already passed bills in
.he interest Of teachers who have re-
:red from active service. Why should
not EIinncsota, one of the greatest
states in the Union, look after the well
fare of it's teachers, and pass this bill
TO enable them to form an association
to carry out their plan with the coun-
,ils of the three cities il. question?
According to the terms of the dill,
if the fund to which the majority Of
the teachers contribute falls short Of
the desired amount to meet the require
men's. the bill provides that tax shall
be imposed to make up the deficiency,
the tax in no event to exceed one
tenth of mill upon all taxable prop
elty in each city. The tax need not
De one-tenth of a mill nor any at all,
provided that the contributions from
the teachers is sufficient. On this feat
TIRE of the bill the Pioneer Press says:
THE objection to most civil tensions
is that they discourage thrift. In this
case, because of the mutual benefit
feature, the tax would encourage thrift.
Nor will the city even when called on
20 levy the full tax authorized be Civ
ing something for nothing. For the
establishment of a system of retired
pay will encourage the retirement of
teachers who have outlived their use-
fitness; whereas school boards now
are 10th to deprive those who have
served long and faithfully of their live
,lhood even when the welfare Of the
argued, furthermore, that the system
will induce better teachers to enter the
profession and will induce longer SER
vice since it will give every teacher an
incentive to make teaching her lie
worl: These reasons alone, and there
are many others equally as sound, full
iy juptify the small appropriation which
The bill authorizes"
AS we said in the beginning this bill
has our hearty endorsement. The
teachers of Minneapolis are doing
noble work in educating it's future c!ti-
zens. A better qualified corps of teach
ers cannot be found in any city in the
land. They deserve encouragement in
their work. and the representatives
from Hennepin county cannot show
their appreciation in more practical
manner than by giving their undivided
support to this measure for the bene-
fit OF the teachers Of Minneapolis. Their
constituents will certainly approve OF
their action.