The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-03-23
MUST CARE FOR OLD TEACHER
Law Now Pending in the Legislature
Meets With the Hearty Support Of
Many People Connected With Schools
of Eenosh@
EBy Mrs. Mary D. Bradford. |


tirement Fund Bill"
The title as given above is that Of a
bill now before the legislature. Tt is
commonly called the Teachers Pen
sion Bill, but what it provides for is not
entirely supplied from the public treas
ury, and hence the other title is more
appropriate.
The bill provides for the retirement
of teachers after at least twenty-five
years of service, eighteen Of which
must have been spent in the public
schools of this state. This does not
mean that teachers must retire after
twenty-five years of service, if they de-
sire to continue. For each year of SER
vice given as teacher they shall re-
ceive $3.50, but the annuity shall not
exceed $3.50.
After eighteen years service as a
teacher In the public schools of this
state, should such teachers suffer from
permanent mental or physical disabil-
ity, he or she will receive an annuity.
The fund is made up partly by con-
tribution from the state of ten cents
for each person of school age, this fund
to be deducted from the seVen-tenths
mill tax before it's distribution, in the
same manner as the ten cents per cap
tia tax is now retained for library pur-
poses.
The rest of the fund is contributed
by the teachers themselves. The meas
ure provides that all teachers beginning
to teach after certain date shall con
tribute one per cent of their salary, but
not more than SIS, in any one year, for
the first ten years of service, and two
per cent, but not more than $50, for the
next fifteen years of service. With
those who have entered the teaching
ranks before the passage of this bill,
it is left optional whether they take adj
vantage of the provisions made or not.
They need not become benefciaries of
the act if they do not want to- If such
persons want to do so, they will be per-
mitted, within certain specified time,
to enroll as eligible by paying into the
retirement fund, one per cent and two
per cent Of salaries previously earned,
as specified above for the recruit.
If any teacher ceases to teach in the
public schools before receiving any
benefit from the fund to which he or
she has been making contributions,
such teacher shall, if application be
made to the board Of trustees, within
six months after the date of his or her
resignation, be entitled to the return
of one-half of the amount, without in
terest, which shall have been paid into
the fund by such teacher.
These are the main provisions of the
bill; there are other paragraphs relat-
ing to administration. The bill is one
of great Importance to the educational
interests of the state. That it's pass
age will result in benefit to the schools
of the state, Is firmly believed by many
people for reasons given below. This
has been the effect in the states where
such measures have been in operation
and the same results will undoubtedly
follow in Wisconsin.
First, there are thousands of teach.
ers in the schools of Wisconsin today
whose wages are so small that it is i'm
possible for them to save anything
Even teachers who receive more than
the average wages, are beset at ali
times with the problem of making a
meagre salary meet the expenses of liv-
ing, provide for needed study, travel
and recreation, pay the expense of
dressing In a manner to meet the de
mands of their position, and for at.
tendance at teachers meetings and in.
stitutes. When this is done, there is
little left to lay by. This condition is
a cause of worriment. Strong teach.
ing cannot be done by a worried wo
man or care burdened man. Those
who look forward to penniless future
az the close of their teaching days, can
not be IN the best condition to guide
train and inspire youth. This is the
condition of the great body of country
school teachers and elementary grade
teachers in Wisconsin. Assistant State
Superintendent Barden, writing for the
Wisconsin Journal of Education 70,
February says with reference to this
points "Such law would Instantly
change the outlook upon life of $4,000
teachers. 1t would remove the night
mare of penniless future that is ever
present in the minds of many teachers
and Tire the ghost of Banquo will not
down. 1t would bring hope and peace tx
the heart of many teacher for whom
the future today seems to hold nj
promise"
But the plea here is not being made
primarily for the teacher but for the
school. Children deserve a happy child