The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-29
Would Increase Efficiency of
Teachers He Says.
MOVEMENT is STARTED
Other States Already Have Such
Laws.
EndOwments and Requests
Would Increase the Fund.
SUNDAY.

Pittsburg, Kan, Oct. 29-"The pen
sion system is becoming more popular
in all parts of the world in every line,
said Superintendent A. H. Bushey while
discussing the present movement to
pension the teachers of Kansas. He
strongly favors the idea, as he be-
lieves it would increase the efficiency
of the teachers and would promote the
welfare of the schools generally. Mr.
Bushey is a member of the state board
of education, said:
In the opinion of the committee
which recommended the law to the as
ISOLATION, the time has arrived for the
urging of a strong pension law. Rhode
Island, South Carolina, Maryland, Ohio
New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and
a number of other states have already
enacted laws for teachers pensions and
there is no good reason why such leg1s-
lation should not receive favorable ac-
ton in Kansas, the most progressive
state in the Union.
TT is thought that such legislation
will benefit the state in that it will
tend to draw the ablest men and wo-
men of the country to the teaching
profession and will keep them in the
work, making the service Of teaching
permanent in nature, rather than tenn
porary as it now is on account of the
meagre salaries paid, and the fact that
no provisions are made for old age
when the teachers usefulness is pass
of persons serve the state better than
do the teachers, and that it is but right
and just that the state should make
some provision for the care and COM
fort of those whose whole lives have
been consecrated to its service
Author of Proposed Law.
Mr.. Bushey is chairman of the leg
islatiOn committee of the State Teach
ers' association which recommended the
law to the association. At the recent
most unanimously favored. Principal
H. l. Miller of Kansas City, Kan, read
a paper almost entirely devoted to the
proposed pension law and teachers sal
aries. He told of the fact that he knew
no teachers in the state that We're rich
and he made it plain that part of ev-
cry teachers salary is spent during the
vacation preparing for the coming
years work. Considering that most
teachers work but nine months in the
year and are paid for no more time,
their salaries are smaller than the COM
monest wage Garner, on an average.
Principal Robert E. Hartsock says
teacher hasn't any time to stop to
make money for old age if he expects
to make teaching a life work. He is
Of the opinion that teachers cannot
be successful and work at something
else in the summer time and even if
they could they could not work to
their own advantage owing to lack
Of desire on the part of employers to
hire men who are not specialists.
Must Hunt Odd Jobs.
a teacher is a specialist in his line
and is probably the only class of spec
ialized labor that has to pick up odd
Jobs during three months of the year
for a livelihood. This last condition
doesn't apply to all teachers, especial
ly those who are well paid, but there
are large class who have barely
enough to live on. Principal Hart
sock says there is a great class of
teachers who cannot, for their own
good, afford to stay in the profession
and this condition makes it impossible
10 keep those experienced in the bust
ness. He believes that teachers who
nave sense enough to be the tutors of
Young America have too much sense
TO face old age without competence.
The plan suggested for Kansas is to
give the teacher who has taught so