Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-08

states offered them greater advantages
than could have been obtained by re-
: naming in our Maine schools.
1 These are facts. gentlemen, ami
4 what are we going to do about it"
e Are we in educational matters to fold
our arms and drift? Are we to stand
in our tracks and mark time while
} The ebbing and flowing of every tide
shall bear away some of our choicest
!. stock? No! This is a picture that
we dislike to look upon. And let all
citizens of the old State of Maine. who
have this great cause of education at
heart, rejoice and be glad together.
that this is a picture that is slowly
but surely disappearing from our can
vas.
Through the wise and efficient
leadership of our superintendent of
schools. whom we sons of Maine are
proud to hail as one standing without
peer among his fellows in the edu-
cational interests of this country, as
| we'll as through the progressive leg
islation of the past few years, this
picture has indeed been partially
erased, and our Maine schools have
been steadily lifted to a higher plain.
The spirit of progress as touching
the schools of Maine is in the air.
Maine educators have their eyes fixed
| upon our motto. recent legislature
| have set in motion waves of progress
that are effecting our educational
standards and it is up to this and
succeeding Legislatures to follow in
their train.
One of the pieces of progressive leg
islation that has been before the edit
cational committee of this Legisia-
! ture is the Teachers Pension bill
Now, / do not presume to argue
with the members of this House for
one minute, that this pension bill. if
placed upon our statutes, will prove
a panaeea for all the ills attending our
educational system in the State OF
/ Maine. But | do say. that, in my opin-
| ion, in common with the opinion of
1 the other members of the educational
|. committee. and backed by the opinion
! of the educators of this State, this
| pension bill. if enacted into law will
prove of positive and incalculable val
ue in raising our educational stand
ards: and, gentlemen, we are in full
accord with our honest convictions
when we submit this affirmation to
you and ask YOU to give it your hon
| est, earnest, and careful consideration
Your committee has spent much
| time in the consideration of this pen
sion bill. \ hearing was had in this
Hall and prominent citizens from
| various sections of the State appeared
| in defense of the bill. 1t may be fit
! ting to say in passing, that but one
| opposing voice was heard, and it was
readily apparent that that was raised
by one who had a personal grievance,
| rather than q CONSTANT argument
against the principle of Teachers
| Pensions
| Since the hearing, We have spent
hours in executive session upon this
! bill. We have added, substraeted.
drafted, and redrafted in order that
/ we might be able to submit to you a
bill, which, in our opinion, would best
meet the various conditions which OBJ
| tain IN the schools of Maine
Now. we are not asking you to take
your observation of this bill from
sentimental viewpoint On the con-
trary, we, want you to consider it as
q business proposition. And, in this
connection | wish to mention, briefly.
/ SIX reasons why we want YOU to pass
this. or some teachers pension BILL
l. We want teachers pension bill.
because we believe that such ii bill
win attract more young men and
young women into the profession.
Now, l am aware that it will be
argued that a meager pension of $3.50,
5000 or $3.50. at the dim, distant. six
| will of
traction to the active, enterprising.
Yankee youth in the selection of his
/ or her life vocation.
Btu, Gentlemen, don't let us forget
| that when the State of Maine places
the Teachers Pension Bill upon its
statute, it says to the girls and boys
of Maine, we propose to place pre-
MUM upon the teaching profession in
this State. And don't let up forget.
that the Teachers Pension Bill. in
significant as it may appear, viii car
ry the impression to the people of
Maine that the State means business,
that the lens have been focused up
on the public schools, and that hence
forth, the cause of education is to re-
ceiyei greater consideration at the
hands of the State, than it has even
received IN years gone by.
And though the pension bill may be
but drop in the bucket, or produce
! but a ripple on the mighty sea, yet,
| don't let us forget that the, ripple is
essential to produce the wave, and
may we not in that faith that is born
/ of confidence. rejoice in the educa-
tional advantages that may he borne
to our children's children, upon the
crest of that wave?
! 2. In the second place, we want
! Teachers Pension Bill, because we
| want to keep our teachers in the State
of Maine. And, in this connection.
we do not presume to argue that the
passing of this bill will Immediately
put stop to our exodus of Maine
teachers: but we do claim, that it will
have a tendency to that end.
We are glad to observe that the
star of hope has already appeared
above the horizon, that the increased
interest in educa tional matters in the
State of Maine, stimulated during the
past few years through the results of
progressive legislation. has partially
checked that tremendous expectation
,Af ,f,,I,