The Washington times., 1910-05-07
TEREE-CORNERED TAX FOR
TEACHERS FUND.

The Government, the District, and the
instructors themselves viii contribute
to the retirement fund for Washington
public school teachers II Congress passes
tlB bill introduced by Representative
Smith Of Michigan, and reported favor
ably By the House District Committee,
OF which Mr. Smith Is chairman
This seems TO be a fair division of
the expense necessary for establishing
a thoroughly commendable reform. 1t
represents the best Judgment of the
House District Committee, which has
been considering the question Of teach
ers' retirement for several years When
put into operation the plan viii prob
ably be found 70 be defective in minor
particulars, but these can be remedied
from time to time, whereas 1t is desir-
able that a beginning be made at once.
In fact, Washington Is several years
behind some OF the leading cities Of the
country N this phase Of school manage
menS.
One Of the good points Of the bill
IS the provision for the establishment
of a permanent fund, made up Of money
received from such sources as Iegaeies,
donations, bequests, and gifts, OF the
tuition fees Of nonresident pupils, and
OF any balance left in TIE annuity fund
at the end Of each year. 1t Is not at
al improbable that this permanent fund
VIII ultimately become so great that
interest from 1t viii 60 a long way
toward providing snnWties-
Provision Is made, however, for a
fund for the direct payment of an
uuities. and It is this TO which the
Government, the District, and the
teachers viii contribute Deductions
Win be made from the salaries Of
teachers monthly. Those who have
taught ten years OF less VIII contribute
! per cent; more than ten years and
less than twenty years, IL per cent;
twenty years OF more, 2 per cent. To
The money thus provided VIII be added
q sum equal to I5a per cent Of the
annual appropriations for teachers
salaries, and this VIII be paid as other
District expenses are paid-haIf by the
Government and half by the District.
Any balance left in the appropriation
for teachers salaries shall also be added
TO the annuity fund.
Another feature OF the bill which
should commend the measure to the
teachers Is that they are given repre-
sentation on the board Of trustees
which passes upon requests for an
nuities- Provision Is aiso made for
representation Of coIored teachers.
It Is probable the provisions that i'm
pose conditions upon which teachers are
to be retired VIII have to be tried out
By practical application before 1t car
be determined whether they are just
what they should be. Annuities are
provided for person who have taught
thirty years. fifteen Of which have beer
In the District; for persons who have
taught twenty-five years In the Dis
trict, and for persons who have attained
the age Of sixty-ive years Annuitiei
are also provided for teachers who be
come mentally OF physically incapaci
tated- In no case shall an annuity b,
more than s., 900 nor less than S4OO pc
auuum-
No class Of people Is engaged IN {
more patriotic and uplifting work thar
our public school teachers They Civ
the best there Is IN them, subject them
selves to little annoyances that harrow
their nerves and wear them out, IabO
long hours, spend what : supposed T.
be lAeir vacation fitting themselves 70
harder duties, and subsist on inadeqUst
compensation, all to the end that tn
rising generation shall be equipped Z
90 ont into the world and take II
pIace IN the worlds work.
Surely they are entitled to the assuI
ance that they shall not want for tn
&C auaI necessaries Of life IN their oI
age
THE BATTLESHIP MAINE Will