Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-18
PENsIoNINe OF coNNEcTIcUT's
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
Hearing in the Senate on Proposed Act
Mo One Spoke in Opposition.


Hartford Conn, Feb. 17.-That there
Is no greater outrage in the American
commonwealth than the placing Of in
competent teachers in charge of school
children: that there are hundreds Of
teachers in Connecticut today who can
just keep ahead of their pupils, and
others who could not do so If they
did not have a textbook in front Of
them; that some action is necessary
to increase the efficiency of the teach
ing force of the state, and that pas
sage of an act providing for the PEN
sioning Of teachers would result In in
creased efficiency of the states teach
ing force, were statements made by
speakers this afternoon at the hearing
in the senate chamber at the capitol
before the committee on education on
the proposed act providing for the
pensioning of public school teachers in
the state of Connecticut. Among those
who addressed the committee were
former Governor Utter of Rh' de Is
land and Superintendent Maxwell OF
the public schools of New York city.
Both were present upon invitation Of
the legislative committee of the state
school teachers association. The hall
was well filled and many of the gallery
seats were occupied, in the audience
being many women when Senator Lu-
ther. chairman of the committee, open
ed the hearing.
The first speaker was Principal
Charles L. Ames of the Brown school.
Hartford, chairman of the state teach
ers' association committee on the pen
sion act. He stated that copies OF the
proposed measure had been sent to all
school principals throughout the state
and to the teachers and that all the
answers which had been received had
expressed approval of the act He said
the measure was not one for any sec
tion of the state alone, but that its
effect would be general. He urged
the passage Of the measure.
Ex-Governor Utter then spoke The
salary of a teacher was small. and 1t
was the duty OF a state, he thought,
to provide for the teacher either by
increased salaries or by pension.
Principal Ames then read a letter
from Prof Charles H. Judd of Yale.
who was TO have been present, but
was prevented, in which Professor
Judd said he would be glad TO be quot
ed in favor of the measure.
Then followed Superintendent Max
well. He argued that the pension
system would improve the work of the
schools. and that il would also relieve
the minds of the teachers of worry in
regard to the future. He closed by
saying: III you are going TO keep
your best teachers and raise your re-
quirements you must pension your
teachers"
Principal W.T.. Burr cf the normal
training school, Willimantic said that
some measure Is necessary 10 increase
the efficiency of the teaching force,
and he believed the pension system
would help greatly.
William Hackett of the New Haven
high school. and president Of the
teachers league in that city. read a
resolution passed by the league IA
voring the passage of the proposed
act.
DR.. Charles w. Dean, superintend-
ent of the Bridgeport schools. said he
represented three hundred teachers in
the city of Bridgeport and favored the
passage Of the proposed measure.
Mrs. L. A. Cummings Of Southing-
ton, representing the Womens Coun-
Gil Of Education OF the state, appeared
In favor Of the measure.
Others who appeared in favor OF the
act we're General Dwight and General
Robinson Of Hartford
No one spoke in opposition TO the
act