The Detroit times., 1913-10-14
TEACHER FIRED
FORBANKRUPTCY.
TO MAKE FIGHT.
May e. Foster, Backed by Her
Friends, Will Make Fresh Eff
fort to Get Job Back
DENIES ATTEMPTING
TO EVADE HER DEBTS
"But How Can l Pay If My EN-
pl0yment Is Taken Away?"
She Asks

Friends of Miss May E. Foster, No.
"a Northumberland, who until last
June had been teacher in the De-
troit public schools for 20 years, are
not satisfied with the refusal of the
teachers committee OF the school
board TO reinstate her. and will take
steps to have the matter carried be-
fore the full board.
Miss Foster was dropped from the
list OF teachers because she petitioned
70 be declared q bankrupt, on the
ADVICE OF an attorney. Creditors, one
In particular. a former member of the
school board, complained that she was
trying to escape the payment OF her
debts. and Miss Foster was dropped
from the teaching STAFF
But" Miss Foster says, "how can I
pay my debts II my employment is
taken awaY II l did not want to
race my creditors, l could go to some
other city and get q position on the
strength OF my experience in the De-
troit schools. prefer to remain In
Detroit and pay my debts II can"
Miss Fosters debts are the result of
misfortunes In her family--the death
OF close relatives, and other events
that brought upon her q large outlay.
She was no fnancier. and she was
distracted by food of troubles. More
over. she was paying installments on
q nat, the income OF which she hoped
would be enough to maintain her and
those dependent on her, after advanc-
Ing years would force her to give up
teaching In desperation, she borrow.
ed money Of loan company.
Now the loan sharks. like the man
IN 0. Henry's story who preyed on de.
partment store girls. xnow exactly
how needy their victims are. They
are fully aware OF the magnificent
ralaries paid to teachers, and Of the
need which a well-educated woman, as
most of the Detroit teachers are. has
for Injuries which are demanded by
culture. So they are in the habit OF
sending their advertisements TO the
public schools. Most Of the teachers
are wise enough TO toss them into the
waste basket. but occasionally these
notices find teacher who Is in ex.
tremity and scarcely knows which way
to turn. A loan shark caught Miss
Foster.
She also borrowed from friends.
when the pressure was too great for
her to bear. Her debts mounteds her
creditors became insistent. A justice
Of the peace told her that her only
escape lay In bankruptcy. Her law
yer gave the same advice. So she
petitioned, and her affairs are now In
the hands Of the bankruptcy court.
Then. after two years of service
In country schools and % years in
the public schools of Detroit, she was
dropped by the board of education.
Three years more Of teaching would
have given her 20 years In the schools,
and would have entitled her to men.
sion. under the rules of the board, n
she desired to retire. She has paid
enc per cent OF her monthly salary
into the pension fund. In the hope
that some day, when she most needed
1t, she would receive an income from
this source. But she has been drop
ped. and under the pension rules a
teacher who fails to complete her term
OF service IL entitled to recover only
one per cent of the amount which she
has paid into the pension fund
The amount Is so small" says
George e. Parker, head OF the trustees
Of the pension fund, that few teach.
ers apply for It,"
Estimating Miss Fosters average
salary for % years at $40 a month,
she has paid into the pension fund
1854. She IL thus entitled to receive
1854 In one lump sum, instead Of $3.50
q year, TO which she would be entitled
after three years more Of service.
The compound interest alone on
Miss Fosters payments into the teach
ers' retirement fund, at per cent,
would amount to $685.; but because
she has been dropped. she cannot re.
cover more than $154-providing these
figures are accurate, and they are not
| far out of the way.
II feel that I am as competent to
teach as ever was,' says Miss Eos.
ter. Certainly my debts have not
impaired my ability as a teacher. 1t
IL only recently that have been able
to draw the highest salary allowed q
teacher in the grades-$100 q month.
y do not want to retire. l want q
chance to earn my salary
Many Of Miss Fosters former pupils
signed her petition for reinstatement.
THE action of the teachers com.
mittee Is rotten, and something ought
to be done about It," said Fred T.. = sc-
gett, once manager OF the United
States Radiator corporation. one OF
Miss Fosters former pupils who sign
ed her petition. II do not believe that
the school board ought to be made an
agency for the collection OF debts"
Attorney Wesley l.. Nutten is an.
other who has interested himself in
Miss Fosters behalf
II hope that enough public senti.
ment can be aroused In Miss Foster
behalf to secure a re-opening of her
case" said Mr. Nutten mo question
Of her teaching ability has been rails
ed II she was good enough to be re-
appointed for 20, years, she Is certain.
~ good enough to be retained. o.
not believe that Miss Foster has re-
ceived fair play. and I would like to
see the matter brought before the
whole board Of education"