Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-11-09
SCHOOL TEACHERS
DISCUSS PENSION
Educational Council of New
Jersey Suggests ImpOr-
tant Changes.
CONSIDER MINIMUM
SALARY PROPOSITION
Normal School for Rural Train
ing Also Given Con-
sideration.

Fixing minimum salary for
schoolteachers and principals was a
matter difficult for agreement among
the members of the Council of Edu-
cation of the State of New Jersey,
at meeting held today in the Court
House.
Following an amendment to a mo-
tion fixing the minimum salary of
teachers at $500 year, the way was
paved for lengthy discussion. which
resulted in the withdrawal of the mo-
tion.
Professor Vernon L. Davey stated
that he was in hearty accord with
the principle, but that to specify a
particular sum would be unwise
The rural districts. it was con-
tended, would be embarrassed by the
passage of such a rule.
Others contended that the difficulty
to get teachers for the rural districts
was an argument in favor of a mini
mum salary, and that legislation to
help the rural districts in the OBJ
tanning of teachers should be, en-
couraged.
Professor F. S. Coe, of East Orange,
Suggested that the committee take
under consideration the advisabillty
Of Sesta blishing a normal school in
the State specially conducted for the
training of rural schools.
DR.. Seeley stated that to differen-
tiate would be a difficult matter to
arrange and to establish a separate
school for the training of rural teach
ers would be somewhat impracticable.
Our normal schools ought to pre-
pare teachers for the rural districts
said he. Superintendent F. S. Shep-
herd, of Asbury Park, moved that the
question of a training school for
rural teachers be referred to the or
ganization committee.
Placing the industrial educational
schools under supervision of the
Board of Education instead of un-
der an administering committee ap-
pointed by the governor was recon-
mended by the council. "A
Professor Elias F. Carr, of Tren-
ton, contended that all industrial ed
ucation should be placed under one
controlling board. "A system of dual
boards is a combination that not
destined to work WE'LL" said he. 1t
was contended that the industrial
schools had failed to meet the edu-
cational need.
DR.. Shepherd made a motion That
the principle Off the amendment to
the teachers pension law, which
failed of passage last year, be ap-
proved by the council. The amend
ment was that teachers who have
taught the past twenty years in this
State and fifteen years here or elee-
where may retire or be retired on
pension.
DR.. A. B. Poland stated that he
was. in accord with that principle.
but Professor Vernon L. Davey con-
tended that the people of the districts
would not stand for the extra tax
burden
Professor Davey said that it would
be better to make the time thirty
years of teaching in this State and
five years here or anywhere in order
to make the retirement on a pension
effective, the salary under the pen
sion being fixed at half the average
salary received in the last five years
of service.
The matter of teachers pension
brought forth considerable discus
sion, the council having many views
in regard to the time of service after
which the State might be fairly OBJ
ligated to pay pension.
"The communities are use dto the
twenty-year law" said DR.. Shep-
herd. Some pensions are being paid
under it now"
Caring for sub-normal children was
the subject under discussion last
night
DR.. E. R. Johnstone. superintendent
of the training school at Vineland
declared that the State should not be
expected to establish school es-
pecially for those children whose
mental development is temporarily
retarded as distinguished from those
who are actually feeble-minded, al
though such a school was recon.
mended to the standing committee OF
pedagogics.
"The solution of the problem, said
DR.. Johnstone, sis for all backward
pupils. except idiots. to be taken care
of in special classes and finally
transferred to State institutions for
adults. Taking into consideration the
fact that it has required fifteen years
to establish three State institutions
1t would be foolish to attempt to es-
tabliRh special school," declared ne.
Statistics. he said. showed that
from 15Sto 18 per cent of the pupils
of primary schools are behind their
grades. and of these 8 or 4 per
cent are actually feeble-minded, ac-
cording to the Binet test. DR..
Johnstone declared further that the
State would not stand for the ex-
pense Of a separate institution for
this class of delinquents.