The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-24
Wolfe Says Public> r.
School System is Il
Unjustly Attacked
PRESIDENT OF N. D. E. A., IN HIS ANNUAL. A I.
DRESS. FINDS FAULT WITH LEADING MAG
AZ1NES-REcOMMENDs TEACHERS. RE-
T1REMENT FUND. |~:G #e'~@*~

OF courtesy and duty toward an.
other. In twelve years experience. in
this state, facts have come under my
observation which forced me to be-
lteve that such a thing as profession
al courtesy does not exist among all
school people. It would seem that the
highest ambition of some il. to UNDER
mine and belittlc the professional
standing Of his fellows. ."
Each year a number Of teachers,
principals and superintendent" come
here from other states. To such; a
code. Of ethics, designed to regulate
their professional relations and con-
duct toward one. another. while with
us. would be a wholesome restraint to
their unbridled desire for self ag-
grandizement. There is too much Of
this In this state and the sooner this
association goes on record in unmis-
takeable' TERMS against It,. the better
for every teacher within her borders.
upon by this association; let break
ing Of contracts. by. teachers, except
for just cause. render a teacher in
eligible to employment in the state:
let censure. for conduct unbecoming.
a teacher 'emanate from ourselves:
and let discipline. II discipline is me-
cessary, be- administered, BY this as
Sociaton.
s,. .~..., Will Raise. status. 49,
"1n this manner the status Of the
teacher will be lifted upove the rank
Of mere paid employee. and teaching
be numbered with the honorable and
digniied, professions. In union, not
in underbfddink.i, there is strength. In
gical trickery, there Is relief. Unit
ed we stand. divided we fall ought
to be emblazoned upon u shields" II
we ever. hope to better the condition
of teachers in North Dakota.
Such a code has been evolved and
adopted by other state associations
and again I say. North Dakota can
not afford to bring up the rear, for
experience has shown that We need
it badly. Some recent occurrences
within this state during the past year
nize these evils and cope with them:
I, not only wish to suggest to this as
ISOLATION that a committee Of three be
appointed with full power to draw
up such a code and report at the next
annual convention, but I will GO eve
further and give some suggestions for
the proposed code something as fol-
lows:
3" That the recommendations of the
proficiency or inefflciency Of any
teacher by superintendent, *+princi-
pals and other school officials, be sin
cere. honest and above deception
nifty of any teacher and unprofession-
al for ny+teacher to underbid an
other, or attempt to secure a posi-
ton which another holds or has a
fairly good chance Of securing or
holding 2
Would he True Profession.
Such a code should be put into cir
,cular. form and distributed; by. tie
tate'departrnent. hfst. to' every teach
,,er. In the state, and. second with. every
new teachers certificate issued. In
this way. teaching would become a
true profession anc be classed with
such honorable and digniied voca-
lions as law. medicine, engineering.
etc. Will this association align IT.
self for such a progressive step or will
discussion Of pedagogical dogma?
Which shall 1t be? -.
A Teachers Retirement Fund.
1.-THE greatest teacher. who ever
lived said at one time that "the lab
orer is worthy. of his hire" Modern
school officials. however, do not seem
to follow this teaching, for it Is still
a d%eplorable fact that the teaching
profession is woefully u%nderpaid and
as a result the privilege Of dying in
a poor house stares the average teach
er in the face. Have you ever zen
a more pitiful sight than the turning
out of employment Of a teacher who
has given twenty or; twenty-five years
of her best life to, teaching. because
she has passed a period Of usefulness
and Is no longer considered efficient?
This is happening all over the coun.
try today. and. is not. an. .overdrawn
picture; but a remedy is being de-
vised. by thoughtful men and women
and the teachers retirement fund idea
Is fast gaining ground. '" Il
North Dakota is still a young
state and perhaps there Is onlysa small
need to avail themselves Of: such a
fund. blu this association. will be
called forever blessed by those who
follow us. II through its influence and
backing. a teachers pension law were
placed upon our statute books in the
near future. Decided progress has
been made in this. matter within the
last few years: !,
|. idea Has Gained. :.
Twelve years g not a single
teacher in any state was pensioned
AIoih puU!iC SCHOOL luuOS. IOQay
Rhode Island and Maryland provide
pensions wholly, from state funds.
New York, New Jersey, and Virginia
have such a law administered par.
TALLY by assessments on teachers sal.
aries and partially by state funds.
| Within the past year Wisconsin.
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont ILL.,
nois, Kansas and Minnesota have adj
opted modiled forms of such, laws.
showing that the time is at hand for
US as a state to fall into line. A large
number of the more important cities,
such as Boston, New York, Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Louis have had
such a law for asnumber Of years.
The state board Of education Of Mass
achusetts has been. instructed by its
last legislature to make an extended
! study of this problem and all indi-
a matter for state legislation. .
1T IL q universally recognized
principle that the public has no moral
right to retire a longtime faithful
servant without sotne provision Tor hi
future. Any teacher would gladly
forego a pension provision II he could
have a contract at full salary as long
rs he chose to retain his position. II
is the right to retire a teacher for
good OF the service at any time that
gives the teacher the right OF a small
income because RETIRED (Journal Of
Education.)
I'm most other empfoyments Of a
professional nature. age enriches
ones earning power. The problem is
not primarily what to do with the
years hut how to get young persons of
| ta1anf md nrnm{Sn into tho coex,tDo