The Republican journal., 1913-03-13
TEACHERS PENSIONS.

10 THE EDITOR OF 1HE JOURNAL
There are two propositions that will en-
gage the attention of the Maine legis-
the salaries of the members, and the
other to pension school teachers. When
legislative salaries were but half what
they are now we found no difficulty in
getting our ablest men to represent us;
and no doubt they would have been will
ing to take the Job if there had been no
salary attached to it, just as they find no
difficulty in getting good men to become
members of the British parliament, al
though they get no pay. Since we have
| increased the pay we have had no Fryes,
Dingleys, Kents, Blaines or Littleields,
or others of that class, who were willing
to attend for one-half what we pay now.
No one pretends that larger salaries will
raise the efficiency of our lawmakers, so
the only call for it is that they selfishly
require more pay, and can raise their
own salaries, which is an excuse without
IcdSOll HC oNCA dRO WdSCo VI oiA
Maine teachers last year was but 1888
for the entire year, which is no more
than our lawmakers receive in salaries,
mileage and perquisites for three months
work, while the teachers work nine
months. While the efficiency of the
teachers does not depend on the law,
makers, the efficiency of our lawmakers
does most emphatically depend on the
school teachers. could not help noticing
the vast difference in the ''atmosphere"
in the Augusta hotels when the teachers
We're there in State convention, and
when the legislature is in session In the
one case the atmosphere was blue with
tobacco smoke and-and other things too
numerous to mention - while in the
former case there was sense of quiet
culture and refinement which showed
that they recognized the Importance of
keeping their mental faculties unclouded,
and Stunned those things that tended to
etfeminate, and were ready to impart to
their pupils the best that was in them.
So | think the teachers will make as
good use of their pensions as our law
makers will of their increased salaries.
Without entering into details it ap-
pears that the proposed increase of sala-
ries would pay the proposed teacher pen
sioners, and as the legislative salaries
were doubled within the past six years it
seems there is no good reason for
further increase at the present; at least
not until some much more meritorious
cases have been provided for. When We
consider that most European nations,
Canada and South America and twenty
two of the States in our own country,
have some form of teachers pension
laws, we cannot say that it is an expert
ment by any means. While majority
of our female teachers with High school
or Normal school education are receiv-
ing less wages than the factory girls
with very limited education the incen-
tive of a pension after years of faithful
service will give our teachers an assur-
ance that the State recognizes their
worth, just as it does the underpaid
soldier in our army.
Now, gentlemen, if you wish to raise
the standard of teaching in Maine, you
have got to pay the price. You have
got to give our teachers some induce
ment to remain here and not go to other
States where they can get higher wages
and better opportunities and pensions
after years OF faithful service. l assure
you that the money will be much better
used than to give it to SO many of those
doubtful institutions that are crop
ping out over our State and whose chief
object is to get hand into the public
treasury.
c. f. SMITH