Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-21
Opposes Teachers Pensions.


by the press to a discussion of the pro-
posed teachers pension bill. This dis
cussion has consisted almost wholly
of reports of the speeches by the pro-
ponents at the hearing by the COM
mittee on education held at Augusta.
Feb. Is. There has been very little
direct discussion of the special pro-
visions of the bill or of the grounds for
assurance that it will produce the re-
suits claimed. Reports of the presen-
tation at the hearing of objections to
and defects of the bill have been con-
spicious for their absence.
These facts. and strong conviction
that this measure, born of urgent need
Of Maine schools and promoted for the
worthy purposes alleged. VIII, If enact
ed into law, defeat those purposes.
have prompted the preparation of this
article.
AS presented to the Legislature the
bill provides that any teacher who has
reached the age of SO years. after haV-
Ing taught IS years. 20 of which in
Guiding the IL years Immediately pre-
eeding retirement has been in the
State of Maine. shall be eligible to
pension equal to one-half his average
contractural salary for the last five
years preceding retirement; provided
further that no person shall receive
less than 5000, nor more than 5000 per
year. The bill also provides that the
necessary money for the payment OF
such pensions. estimated at $4,000 per
year. 100000 to $4,000 for active teach
ers and the balance for those who
have retired for the next ten years,
shall be taken from the school fund.
The bill is to go into effect, July l, 1914
Whatever views may be held con-
corning pension system in general
or of the provisions of this particular
bill, all recognize the unique character
Of the teachers work, and Its great
value to the home, the community, and
the State. Every state is under obli-
cations to it's faithful teachers that 1t
can never hope fully to meet. All will
admit that provision should be made to
keep. from want during their declin-
ing years all those persons who have
given the strength of their productive
life To the training of Maine boys and
girls.
But an impartial study of the pro-
posed bill will reveal the fact that it
Is met III It's III tSIph III tiiCH's
who will share its benefits; that it
does not provide for others equally de-
serving, and that it will retard in
crease of efficiency in various ways.
The bill is inequitable because 1t
makes the least provision for those
who presumably are the most needy
those who have received the least Wa
ges-and confers its benefits chiefly
upon those who have had highest sal
aries and most advantages in other
respects. 1t is inadequate because 1t
fails 10 provide for a large number of
deserving veteran teachers who are
unable to meet the excessive require
ment of 80 years service.
At the hearing, the committee on
teachers pension, as their chief con-
tention for the bill. made the claim
that it would promote the efficiency
Of the teaching force and, therefore,
the work of public education" State
Supt. Smith said: ut is my opinion
that the chief consideration before you
involved in this bill is as to whether it
will increase the efficiency of our
Maine schools.
We shall show that the measure will
not promote but retard increasing eff
fiCiency.
1t is calculated to prevent increas-
ing efficiency by affording an excuse
for not increasing teachers wages,
and by retaining at their maximum
salary teachers of low and decreasing
efficiency in order that they may round
out 30 years of service, and become
eligible for a pension. The argument
advanced by the committee presenting
the bill that it will not prevent the
raising of teachers wages because
similar legisla ton in frye other states
has not had that effect loses its force
when we learn that the average
monthly salary of teachers in those
states in 1911 was $6510. while the av
erage in the whole United States was
s61.70; in Maine $36.S9. There can be
no argument from analogy where fun
damental conditions are SO different.
On the other hand, one of the strong
est reasons that can be presented in
favor of raising teachers salaries in
Maine which are the third lowest
paid in any state, is that the teacher
is not receiving a living wage. and is
entirely unable to make suitable pro-
vision for old age Obviously pension
legislation claiming to make this pro-
vision for old age would make it still