The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-22
TWO ELIGIBLE TO PAYMENTS
Mrs. Mary D. Bradford Says Teachers
of the City Are Not Acquainted with
the Provisions Of the Proposed Act.
Must File Before September.

Teachers in the public schools of
Kenosha and Kenosha county have re-
ceived blanks from the state which
they must fill out if they expect to
accept the provisions of the new
teachers pension law and these blanks
must be filed with the bureau of
teachers pensions in Madison before
the first Of next September. Kenosha
teachers have not taken any too kindly
to the proposed pension provisions and
they promise to withhold their sanction
of the law until the last day of grace.
OF the 81 teachers employed in the
schools of the city but 10 are now reg
istered with the bureau. Of this num-
Der twelve registered because they
were forced to under the law. These
twelve teachers have taken up their
work as teachers in Wisconsin since the
law went into effect and under the law
they had no option but to pay in their
per cent. Of salary to the bureau. Seven
of the teachers have voluntarily gone
under the pension law. The seven were
headed by Mrs. Mary D. Bradford, sup
erintendent of the schools of the city,
who is the teacher having the longest
experience as teacher in the city.
Mrs. Bradford has been teacher in
the schools of Wisconsin for a per-
iod of 81 years, but Is years of
this time were spent in normal schools
of the state, and she is only entitled
Ito consideration Of % years as a
teacher in the public schools. She is
now entitled to a pension on retire
ment. Mrs. Williams has taught in the
schools Of Kenosha for twenty-five
years and is entitled to pension I'M
der the law. Neither of the teachers
have any idea Of seeking a pension as
they are among the most active and
most valuable teachers in Wisconsin.
Some time ago it was stated that one
Of the Kenosha high school teachers,
who had come in from another state,
would test the Wisconsin law, but he
has dropped his action and has been
one of the few Kenosha teachers reg
istered with the bureau.
In speaking of the matter this morn
ing Mrs. Bradford said: 81 feel GER
tain that before the first Of Septem-
Der the large majority of the Kenosha
teachers will be affiliated with the
state movement. The trouble is that the
| teachers do not understand the law. Tt
/ er ever brought to Wisconsin and it
assures them against hardship in their
old age. The law provides that the
teacher shall receive an annual pension
| of $3.50 year for each year taught
| in the schools of the state. The mini
mum pension is $3.50 paid to teachers
on retirement after twenty years SER
vice. The money that they pay in is
not lost if they fail to remain in serv-
| ice twenty years, as when they retire
| they may withdraw from the fund one
half Of what has been paid in. There
| is no way that teacher can get so
good insurance against age limitations
as by getting into the pension bureau.
| OF course, the amount looks small to
a teacher earning a large salary, but it
must be remembered that when the
time comes for the salary to be cut off
even small amount will be very vel
come. am hopeful that the Kenosha
teachers will act in the matter at an
early date.