The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-11-07
Pensions For Teachers

number of the teachers of Maine
What we intended to say, and what we
did say. in that editorial was that the
discussion of teachers pensions just
at present is most untimely; we be-
lieved. and still do believe that before
the subject of pensions for teachers Is
advocated the salaries of the teachers
of Maine should be greatly increased.
This idea occurred to us as entirely
sensible and was the outgrowth of a
pretty intimate acquaintance with sef-
eral groups of men who make mp some
of our boards of education.
The chairman of the Committee on
Teachers Pensions. Mr. FarnsWorth =.
Marshall, of Augusta, has written the
editor of this paper in an endeavor TO
set us right on this question. The
chairman states in his letter that he Is
not seeking to get himself before the
public but instead to point out certain
things which | think you may have
posslbly overlooked when you pre-
nared your editorial" He then pro
ceeds to set US right, as follows;
When | was appointed Chairman
of the Committee on Teachers rem
sions. | entered the work with as
liberal and open mind as you have
at the present time and was more
than half convinced myself that
camnaign for better salaries would
result in more good to the teachers
in Maine than one for pensions.
What | have learned, however, has
caused me to change my opinion SO
that at the present time | am hrm'y
convinced that the two ideas have no
connection and that the matter OF
pensions is of more pressing import
ance than a campaign for hlgher
salaries.
To answer your objection in your
editorial, | will say that i'll none Oh
the TWENTY-FIVE states or in any OF
the foreign countries which nave
some form of pension Legislation
have the granting of pensions TO tue
teochers resulted in lowering or re-
ducing the salaries of the teachers
This of itself would answer your Cd
ioction Pensions do not work thal
way. Pension legislation does not
effect the principal factors when
govern teachers salaries and thes
are supply and demand and the quail
fications of the teacher. The salaries
which community offers determines
the ouality of the teaching which II
receives. A community that pays
eight dollars a week can hire an
eight-dollar teacher; a community
that pays sixteen dollars week can
hire a sixteen-dollar teacher, ana the
mansion proposition will not figure In
either case.
am sending you the report OF the
Committee which gives the princlpai
arguments for teachers pensions. by
them you will see that the reasons
for pensions are wholly economic
and that we claim that they res
ult in much benefit to the whole
school system OF course, pensions
will distinctly benefit individual
teachers. but the main reason Tor
pensions is for the good of the
schools and not the good of the in
dividual.
Obviously, the chairman has not
made out his case at all. We are
willing to accept without question
the fact that twenty-five states and
all foreign countries that may have
pension legislation have experienced
no lowering or reducing in the sal
aries of teachers. Certainly, we hope
motif the wages are similar in size
to those paid in the very progressive
State of Maine, But. this is quite
aside from the main proposition
Let us repeat in another form. The
one important educational question
in Maine to-day is the substantial in
crease in teachers pensions; that
whatever tends to postpone that re-
suit is an injury not a benefit; and
hat the idea of pensions for teach
ers would be taken as an argument
against any increase in the annual
budgets for educational purposes.
The twenty-five states notwith-
standing. if the pension scheme pro-
posed In Maine does not encourage |
my uplift in wages, we will have
lone of it, certainly; we are concern
ID with the important work of get
ing salaries boosted not with the
work of keeping them where they are.
f there Is sufficient evidence to con
rince us of the fact that pensions /
lelp in the raising of wages then we
should certainly feel more kindly dis
posed toward the proposition as sug-
rested through the chairman of the
committee on pensions; but because
We firmly believe the adoption of this
pension plan will tend to stop all
progress toward higher salaries, we
et our faces steadfastly against 1t.
What Mr.. Marshall and his asso