The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-12
The Tcacher, pen,,o, las

re Tcachers' Pension Inv
si rne Ghui'or OF The Times spa Itch:
tor or teachers pension luw la that
~ WIN 90 more than almost anything
t ESQ toward encouraging Virginia
teachers 10 regard their occupat ton as
q real profession. To-day there Is
very litile professional spirit among
,men sery many are using their
ence. stepping stone TO other things.
hey teach until they see u good OPP
poItunity Tor marriage. or untii they
nave saved money enough TO compass
cea.aih ends which they had In view
rom the beginning. With them
.SacHhs In only means to an end
,hht emu being solely their own adj
.antase. Ihcy declaim loudly against
- Ing one per cent. OF their salaries
80 inci ease mo pension fund. and they
"aht the pension law repealed because
Y. ,Hht one per cent. clause Most
~ H., xns,., ar' young and comparatively
"a hGhool few years--long enough
tor thcH 10 nave earned The required
a ,aHi OF dollars. Than they VIII
fnek more conscnial field. of activity
ana theIr places Mil be filled By 9th.
cFs % the 81 sort.
All over The State men and women
are responding to continual demands
sent out from headquarters for i'm
pToHeihent In teachers. lhey attend
SoiieSe or university and sin degrees.
nat thGy go ls.where TO teach. We
'eacher 10 better pro. essional equip
ihcnt. but We are losing tac improved
TFoonct because OF the lack OF It's
cncoura tnen. We cannot axuect 10
virginia teachers, for tho most part;
/; receive very Inadequate alur!ea-of-
zen unequal pay for tbs same work.
and when. through ago or exhaustion.
shey cease 10 be useful wlthou, a
pension law they Will be turned out
upon tho charity OF tho world. per
mono Home years ago. because sho
"ss too proud 10 beg.
IneTe Is scarcely any other oooupa-
uon 80 VilSily wearing as tia, OF
SlEe. OF hor strength. OF her mind. OF
Aer Spirit OF her very life, in IarRe
measure msasnse st e, 81 times shs docs /,
sees In thu future OF tho child the
fruits OF her sacrifice To auch a ono
nes %o!k lie moro or less Il oonsec=a-
uoh. She realizes tho true NOBILITY
to h It Rr1ie,ssin2n and ,rs. 10 live up
me tutu!c CITIZEN H.r first thought
IS Tor MN Her next Is Tor that of
pfoieiiion She IL incapable Of the
hI!s.!Ecas OF trying 10 withhold the
.lii.ul sum OF one per cent. OF her
salary. Al long al II is actually nc ID
60 for IA, benefit OF her fellow la
oorers grown old or disabled in IN.
"9fh' We cannot In time oil our
hLho0!s win Euch teachers. II Is our
own tauli Even consecrs,ed man
ana woman must 1--we. and no one can
iitord 10 enter profc..ion, II ne
nhowa that "hen his Usefulness is
gone. he will be turned out, like an
old horse. TO die or 10 40 TO tho dogs
We need not be surprised that the me-
9orliy OF our young people arc pre-
-eFflnB other occupations.
What are We Offering In return for
me kind OF educational syetem we arc
ling TO establish in Virginia?
small salaries. upon which many can
rarely live ct tho present, Win no
guarantee for the future Tn. only
remedy IN sight Is adequate salaries
ahd reasonable pension law The
latte shouid be Bis enough 10 pay It's
ieacher worthy OF the name is viii
!ns 10 help az long as her a.J AZ nc
iraily needed.
We hear much OF tho duty O, the
S,a,e 70 ~ old and wornou, ser
HahE Ihat 10 good argument Blu,
one That "ili possibly be more appre-
StAtea is that the pension law Ia a
a.t! the state owes to herself II she
wants to ouiid up her sducatto
system. and 70 III her schools with
me. right Kind OF teachers. she niisi
.AaHe proper provision for them. II
s"e does not do So she must e.nec,
20 1859 them. as enc is doing rapidly
Moreover. tn. pension law ,ho,,d
placed beyond the power Q. re-
praL The teacher owes a duty 10 ina
state. but the state In turn owes a
"ou1ie dGty--to the teacher AID 10 n
SeAi- 1. IS In the power OF the State
20 give to the teaching protession
within It's borders such value and ill.,
MY as viii attract not only our o,Sn
real educators. but thoss of other Sec.
lions.
Richmond GRACE VERNON.