The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-03-23

Give them cheerful, joy-inspiring
teacher who is not working with a div
ided mind, but who can give the best
that is in her to the school.
Second, there are many teachers in
Wisconsin who have practically worn
themselves out in the service Of the
schools. For periods Of from twenty
five to fortyive years they have spar
ed no power Of heart or brain in loving
and concentrated devotion of their lives
to the lives Of boys and girls. They
have been able to save little or no.
thing, many of them having had others
to help or support. To retire from
teaching would mean privation or char
ity. A pension law releases those who
are thus broken in spirit and health,
not to be objects of charity, but with a
sufficient income to live upon, Their
places in the school room will be taken
by younger teachers of fresher ener-
gies.
Third, the high schools would profit
by this law, as well as the elementary
schools. Teachers in high schools get
higher salaries and are able to lay by
more to take care of themselves in old
age than can the elementary teacher.
But to do this they are compelled to
deny themselves the opportunity of
travel the time to study, and the
change of scene for bodily rest which
are essential to the life and growth Of
an inspiring teacher. A retirement pen
sion would enable the men and women
to use some of the money they earn to
multiply their own powers; it would
save them from settling down into ruts
and becoming mechanical in their work,
as is so often the case. All this would
result in benefit to the young people in
our high school classes.
Fourth, this measure will tend to hold
in the teaching profession, more of the
able men and women who now leave it
for other more promising fields. The
schools suffer seriously because teach
ers of largest ability are every year
being drawn away from the school ser
vice, not because they do not like
teaching, but because they see that no
matter how prudent or saving they may
be, they will not be able to support
their families and lay by a competency
for old age.
More men are needed in the teaching
profession. Many children go through
the entire eight grades and never feel
q man IS influence condition which
is not conducive to well rounded char
acter; for in the school, as in the home,
the best conditions for development are
those where children know and feel the
influence of the right kind of man as
well as of a woman.
Fifth, not only would this pension
act tend to hold in the ranks Of Wiscon
sin teachers, the men and women Of
ability now there, but it would attract
to the army of teachers stronger class
of recruits. The efficiency of an army
depends upon the character of the re-
cruiting department.
One of the most striking proofs we
have today of what a peRsion will do
to elevate educational conditions is
found in Argentine Republic. There
a teacher is retired after a certain
term of service on a pension equal to
the salary received his or her last year.
Instances are given by writers, where
the salaries were increased the last
year so as to secure to the retiring
teacher as large an annuity as possible.
This generous provision has attracted
TO Argentine Republic some of the
strongest teachers of Europe and the
United States. Some of these teachers
have after their term of service return
ed to the United States with a pension
Of $4,000. With such strength in its
educational systems as must come from
able teachers it is easy to understand
why this South American country has
made the wonderful progress it has in
all ways where general intelligence
counts.
1t is not, however, necessary to go
to South America for evidence of what
a good pensioning or good retirement
fund system will dc to strengthen the
teaching force of state. New Jersey
is attracting and getting and holding
teachers of the best ability and prepar-
alton that the country has. This is
true also of the large cities of our
country in most of which retirement
funds are provided.
To one who may be Indifferent to
this question, the following series of
propositions may seem to have logical
force:
If our state would progress to better
things, the average citizen must be
good citizen,-an intelligent citizen.
Education is the only means for rails
ing the efficiency of the average citi-
zen.
Ninety per cent of the future citi-
zens of Wisconsin are ge4sing their
education in the elementary schools of