The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-07

to membership on this board three
members of the association who are
in every way entitled to the honor,
and are worthy Of the entire conf
dence Of us all: Supt. P. S. Berg Of
Dickinson; Co. Supt. John Haig Of
Ramsey county, and Miss Clara M.
struble Of the Grand Forks high
school.
There are various other minor fea-
lures of the law which it is not nee
cessary to mention here. The main
provisions are those already discussed.
1t might, however, be of interest to
speak of three particulars in which
our law differs from the Wisconsin
statute pom which, in general, 1t
was modelled, and to explain them
briefly.
First, in Wisconsin the annuities
are the same for all teachers who have
had equal terms of service. teh factor
of average salary not being consider
ed. AS the factor Of salary does en-
ter into the computation of assess
ments, this seemed to your committee
and unjust arrangement n we,
therefore, modified it as already ex-
planned.
Second, the Wisconsin law names
$3.50 as the maximum annuity, and
PGoIsoV d5 LIS LIllIllltluIlI, OuT law as
stated before, Is more generous, nam
ing $3.50 as the maximum and $3.50 as
minimum. In view of this increase
in the amount of the annuities, the
maximum assessments were raised
from SIS to $40 and from $50 to $40.
These advances Of course affect only
those receiving relatively large sala-
ries.
In the third place, the Wisconsin
law provides that the portion of the
fund derived from the state shall be
paid directly by the, state treasurer
from state funds. Because Of the fact
tina u state treasurer was last year
being guarded with special care your
committee thought it better to pro-
vide that the public's contribution
should be paid, not out of the state
treasury, but out Of the various coun-
ty tuition funds. This seems at first
a small matter; in either case the
taxpayers pay it; but it proved a very
effective point with the legislature.
AS long as it was thought that the bill
called for an appropriation from state
funds it had scant attention; when,
however, it was discovered that it
made no demand upon the state treas,
ury it was given respectful and cor
dial attention.
Your committee feels that our North
Dakota law, as 1t stands today is the
most: just n generous law yet en-
acted in this country. We feel that it
meets the needs in this state and that
it deserves the cordial support Of ev-
cry teacher. Two criticisms, however,
have reached" our ears. The first is
that the law Is too exacting; the Sec
ond is that 1t Is too generous.
The complaint that The law Is too
exacting seems to be directed against
the provision which requires all new
teachers after Jan. l next to join the
fund and pay the assessments whether
they expect to continue teaching or
not. In reply to this criticism we
would say: first, that those who begin
teaching with a genuine intention Of
making it a life work will not object:
second, that those who plan to use
teaching merely as q temporary con-
venience still owe something to the
profession and to those endeavoring
to elevate 1t. If. indeed. profession
is ever to have any professional spirit,
1t is essential that something be done
to emphasize professional obligation
and to bring ~all@teachers together in a
common organization. AS a matter
of fact, it is these unprofessionaI way
farers who teach for q while just to
bridge owe a period Of, uncertainty
Who keep down wages and lower ped
agogical standards. It is no more
than right that such pay a little some
thing for the high privilege. of belong
ing to the profession ever for a time.
AS a matter of fact, the amount de-
manded is very little. These mex
perfenced teachers would not, on the
average, receive more than $50 a
month, and probably would not, on an
average, teach more than six months
! NrTf r. fhn tnor Hi0 ~ r1n~n q. - I
stipend from teaching would therefore
be about $500. The assessment on
this would be only SO, one-haIf Of
which will be returned, If the teacher
~retires from the work Of teaching and
desires the refund. The total con-
tribution under these circumstances
would be only $1.50, which Is certainly
not too great a price to pay for the
privilege Of being d recognized mem
Der Of II noble profession.
The second criticism, that the law is
too generous, is more serious. 1t is
claimed that the funds made avai1a-
BILE by the law cannot possibly MAIN
tain the system, For instance, it is
said. a teacher will begin teaching at
20 years of age, teach for twenty-five
years., and retire at 4b. During his
professional life he will have paid into
the fund just about enough to pay
AAi6 sllInIf aIAIluAty, IS aS lIhely, uOWeV-
er, to draw twenty or thirty such an
nuities. Tt is urged that this is i'm
possible; that no financial scheme
which promises to return to an invest
or twenty or thirty times the amount
invested can be sound or long endure.
The fallacy in his criticism lies here,
that it lis not expected that every in
vestor Will realize on his investment,
nor is 1T expected that many members
1910 rE&EEA HII - b@.-s $50 H-- LI
fact Is las shown by experience else
where) that very, very few care TO re-
tire at AS. The pension available at
that time is not SUFFICIENT to invite re-
3tirement except in cases Of disability,
BY far the great majority of teachers
will continue in the work as long al
possible, retiring only when retire.
ment becomes imperative.
Statistics gathered from other