Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-12

tnecessltate the advancement of the
I.teaehers' wages more than sixty per
cent, which our State is not prepared
to do
I IheS further showed us that shrewd
| business men and corporations pension
Their faithful employees Maine recog-
hlzes The principle in retiring the jus
| tlces OF cur supreme court at 10 years
ef age on one-half salary. The speak
ers were al very earnest and seemed
| To have the subject matter very much
at heart
IN addition very many petitions ia
Nering pension legislation have been
introduced into this Legislature and
referred To cur committee Also we
/ have received many letters containing
| personal appeals. 1t should be the duty
| of the educational committee to in
crease the efficiency of our teachers
! and awaken a greater interest in the
cause OF education among our people.
| We recognize the fact that the wages
! received by school teachers constitute
! a measure of two things First, the
| quality of ability of the teacher and
! sec ond, the value the community puts
! upon the teachers services The fact
| that the teachers wages are lower
than these paid for almost any other
| sort Of service means that we are
neither asking for or getting a high
| grade of service. and that as State
we place a low valuation on our teach
ers Work.
| We went into executive session with
| d desire to do the right as we had abil-
| ity To see the right, From that session
or sessions, / should say. for we had
several, came the bill in new draft
which We unanimously reported ought
to bass. This bill provides that any
person when they shall have reached
The age Of 60 years and WHO for So
years shall have been engaged in
teaching as his principal occupation
and shall have been employed as
tea ehcr in the public School or in such
other schools within this State as are
supported wholly or At least three
fifths by state or town appropriation,
and are under public management and
control, 20 years of which employment,
including the 10 years Immediately pre-
ceGing retirement, shall have been in
this State and shall have been retired
by his employer or shah have volun-
tariy retired. shall receive for the re-
maindar of lis life $3.50, provided. that
after September 80, 1918. no person shall
be eligible To a teachers pension I'M
less they hold State teachers Ger
tifIcate issued under authority of the
State superintendent of schools.
Any person who is 60 years of age
and has taught 80 years as his princi-
pie occupation. with the other require
ments which have mentioned. will re-
celve $500. And any person who is go
years of age and has taught % years,
with the same requirements, will re
ceiYe S150 year. Any person who 9TH
erwise meets the requirements, but has
retired When this act goes into effect
shall receive one-half the amounts. or
SIS, $40 and S125 per year. If any per-
sob WHO is granted a pension resumes
teaching, his pension shall be suspend
ed
As - per cent of our people who ac
tuatly make good in life as teachers.
doctors. lawyers. statesmen or in bus
iness, come from our rural commune
Ties, it seems but fair that our system
of pensioning teachers should not dis
eriminate against the country teacher
/ and the county school. So far rs the
pension benefits go the county teacher
Woula receive exactly the same pension
as the city teacher. The 5-year peri
cd plan will give school boards bet
ter opportunity to justly retire teach
ers who, because OF old age, cannot do
the best service.
The probable cost Of the bill will he
n hotit Tho como the ma introduced
or little less than $4,000 per year,
Which is taken from the common school
fund. had Some computations about
taking this amount from that fund,
but inasmuCh as we have reported II
bill cutting out New Years day as 4
school holiday altogether and giving to
the school committees an opportunity
to have school on Washington's birth
day, Columbus day and Lincoln day,
and as it cost the State approximately
81, GOO per day to run its schools, |
ouieted my conscience. believing thai
the teachers would render enough eX-
ira service If the holiday bills passes
to pay for ali pension benefits.
Your committee are unanimous in
asking that YOU pass this teachers
pension bill We ask it in behalf of the
teachers Of Maine; we ask it N behalf
OF the 900, 0e0 school children In Maine.
who have a right to expect the best
teaching possible. We ask it in behalf
of the fathers and mothers in Maine,
Who have sufficient confidence in their
teachers to entrust to them their chill
dran during the tender years of their
lives when their characters are being
. 8. e, "a r.