Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24
PENSIONS FOR PROFESSORS
DR.. George Elliott Howard Writes Of
the Carnegie Foundation.
HELPS RETAIN CAPABLE MEN
Objections Against Acceptance Held
Not TO he valid and BENEFITS
Can he Rejected should
valid Ones Arise.
From a staff CORRESPONDENT

Jan. 8.-(Special.)-Dr. George
E'iott Howard of the University of Ne
braska has prepared the followin state
ment Of the state universities and the
Carnegie retiring pensions:
Both in theory and practice the granting
Of retiring allowances on the basis OF age
or service has long been sanctioned as
sound educational and social policy. In
Germany and in some other European
countries all grades of teachers, from the
elementary schools to the state supported
or controlled universities. are pensioned on
retiring from active service. Likewis in
the United States a few OF the private
foundations have provided pensions for the
members of their teaching and adn1inistra-
tive bodies. Such. for instance, Is the case
of Williams college, which maintains a
very liberal pension system. Most Of our
colleges, of course, are too poor to follow
this example.
Hence it is not surprising that the estab-
nshment on April Is, 1905, Of the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teach
ing" ELECTED widespread sympathetic re-
Spouse. That institution was then endowed
with 100000 to create an interest fund
for the purpose OF providing retiring PEN
sions for teachers in ron-sectarian colleges,
VI universities and technical schools in the
Urited States, Canada and Newfoundland.
At that time state supported institutions
were not included.
There are obvious reasons why a COL
legiate pension system may prove of great
social and educational value. At the best,
PROFESSIONAL incomes. are small compared
with the rewards which the same ability
and cost Of training are able to command
In many other vacations. Yet 1t is of the
greatest moment to society that scholars
engaged in the creative research by which
the boundaries of knowledge are widened
shall be freed from anxiety on the bread
and butter question. and be able to devote
themselves zealously and uninterruptedly
to research. II have reached the conclu-
sion,' says Mr.. Carnegie In rendering the
pension endowment, that the least re.
warded Of all the professions is that of
the teacher in our higher educational in
stitutions. The consequences are grievous.
Able men hesitate to adopt teaching as a
career, and many old professors, whose
places should be occupied by younger men,
cannot be retired"
state University Salaries.
1t was soon perceived that the liberal
pensions provided for the teachers in the
private colleges, notably in those of the
east, put the state universities at a great
disadvantage. AT the highest, the average
teacher is much lower-at least 80 per cent
lower-than that Of his colleague Of tho
same rank in the east; and in this regard,
be It noted, the Nebraska professor stands
well toward. the bottom OF the list. The
western state universities have, been. un-
able to compete with their richer rivals,
many Of their best teachers have been
drawn away by the offer Of higher re-
state universities be able to hold their own
when retiring pensions were added to the
resources of their rivals.
As a result, representatives of the state
: supported institutions formally requested
tended to them" Accordingly this Sc was
done on March 81, 1903, when 5000, 900 were
: ADDED ned to the for this purpose; e.
its teachers the benefits of the foundation
on application by its governing board, pro
vided the application be approved by the
t legislature and the governor of the state.
= This winter, therefore, in all of the states
whose LEGISLATURES meet the question will
= arise, Shall the proffer of the retiring PEN
sions be accepted? The question is almost
sure to be answered in the affirmative.
= That sentiment iS QtFnnRlV In IT'S favor
the writer knows from personal discussion
; with representative men of leading uni,
Wisconsin. Indeed, ths Legislature Of Mas.
? S 5aiaaqion has as already approved the ne,,s Z,
for participation in the foundation.
E objection Not Valid.
hus a powerful example has been set,
and II can scarcely be doubted that II is
objected that the state should not accept
: such a gift from a private source. There
is small danger that harm to society can
= result, for the legislature may at any time
Il withdraw its approval should any bad ten,
dency develope. This IL the great saving
clause in the proposed endowment, since
: to all intents and purposes, the state by
approving, and by implication reserving the
/ power to withdraw its approval, virtually
over, it is highly probable that most OF the
state institutions will accept, the benefits
so will thus be doubly Handicapped. They
viii find It hard to compete, not only with
the rich private foundations of the east
but even with sister state universitie:
which shall have added retiring pensions
to their other resources, Besides, 1t is al
most certain that the western states will
long hesitate to provide such allowance:
from their own revenues.
d It will be safe and wise for the Univer
sity of Nebraska to participate in the Car
negie foundation. All the more so because
a after its benefits are once accepted Their
n is no opportunity for favoritism or unjus
discrimination in the case of individual
teachers. In effect the operation of TN,
system Is tomat A contractural rela
ton Is created, and surely the courts woul,
maintain the just rights of any teacher
even against an unwise action of the boart
itself, should such an emergency ever arise
The state itself is thus a bulwark agains
= oppressive use OF the system. Freedom
OF teaching is not in peril. Academic an,
I democratic ideals are safe.