Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-07
Teachers Retirement.

1t is expected that next Monday the
House of Representatives will devote
some time to the consideration of Dis
trict business. and 1t is hoped that the
bill for the provision OF means for the re-
tfrement OF superannuated public school
teachers will receive favorable attention.
Action on this measure Is urgently
needed to prevent the continuance Of con-
ditions in the public school system which
initiate seriously against the efficiency Of
the educational process.
For the past twenty years the average
annual salary Of the District public school
teachers has been barely $67O. In 1909,
before the salary increases which were
voted by Congress, the average was 500.
Now. including high school principals and
heads of departments. it is SOIL. Out Of
this sum the teacher must live decently,
must dress neatly, must carry on studies
often at considerable expense, and. In
order to prevent rusting, must travel.
When all this has been done there is but
small margin Of possible savings. After
twenty years Of unremitting labor and
the most rigid economy q teacher might
possibly save two or three thousand dol
lars, feeling herself fortunate to have &C
comphshed such triumph Of fnancier-
ing. It Is the exceptional teacher, indeed,
who is able to save anything out Of the
comparative pittance doled out to her,
and in consequence It Is rare that one Is
ever in q position to retire. The result is
the retention In service Of teachers who
should be relieved from duty both for
their own sakes and for that Of the sys-
tenn.
The United States stands almost alone
in its failure to provide adequately for
the retirement Of the men and women
to whom is intrusted the education of
the future citizens. 1t is strihngiy in
contrast in this respect with Germany.
where the education OF the youth OF the
land is rated as a most honorable and
important function. Germany provides
literally for the teachers, not only during
their service, but In their retirement. and
thereby encourages the adoption Of teach
ing as a career and maintains the educa-
tional system on q high plane OF eff
cheney. The United States. with singular
indifference to this most essential detail.
has allowed the teaching profession to
remain the poorest paid Of all. A few
years ago leading member OF the House
OF Representatives. since become one OF
the most influential members Of that body,
remarked that in the District Of Columbia
the policemen were paid more to crack
the skulls Of the children than the teach
ers were paid for putting something into
them The truth Of this remark is evi-
denced by tho fact that even now one OF
the District high school teachers gets the
same salary as the assistant janitor OF
that school.
The United States has a direct oppor-
tunity here in the District to demonstrate
that public school teaching Is not rated
with unskilled labor. but that it Is re-
garded as an honorable, responsible
charge. calling for adequate compensa-
ton and especially for proper provision
for the retirement Of those who have
grown old in the service, and who.
through no fault Of their own. prove q
burden upon the system through their in
ability to maintain their work UP to the
standard required in the interest OF the
community.