The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-22
Teachers Compensation

the public schools of this state, and
the board of education, appointed by
Governor Fletcher in accordance with
law passed at the recent session OF
the Legislature, will unquestionably
discover that more adequate compen-
sation is one of the chief needs of
our department of education.
The surprisingly small average
received by the women teachers OF
this State in particular has been en-
phasized by that brilliant champion
of Vermont and Vermont interests,
Helen M. Winslow, in letter to the
Boston Transcript as the basis for ar
gument for a deserving subject. She
shows that the average pay of wom-
en- teachers in the Vermont public
schools is ninety-siX cents per work
ing day throughout the year. lnas-
much as several months vacation &C.
ours during the summer this state
ment is made in its most aggravated
form, and yet it serves to demon
strate the comparatively small sum
of money on which the women teach
ers of this State are compelled to
live.
In the light of this showing the
question is asked whether it is any
wonder that some of the best teach
ers are leaving Vermont for the pur-
pose of receiving the larger salaries
which they can command in States
that pay better wages for this service
The letter continues as follows:
why, statistics show that unedu-
Gated women workers-in factories,
stores and tels-dressmakers, mill
ners and stenographers all receive
larger incomes; even the street clean
ers of our cities are getting better
wages than that
"A step forward has been taken re-
Gently, however, in the passing of an
act by the Legislature granting a GER
tain amount of money as a pension
fund for teachers, providing that a
like sum shall be raised by the teach
ers and their friends, not to exceed
$4,000 a year The Governor has
signed the bill and it has now be-
come a law. The sum of 100000 is
required to meet the demands of the
situation, and the Vermont Teachers
Retirement Fund association has gone
bravely to work at their task This
organization has been working for
two years to raise money for their
"nest-egg." They have succeeded in
getting about $4,000 as a nucleus. and
are determined to make it $4,000 be-
fore October, in order to get a like
amount from the State treasury. The
State treasurer is treasurer of this
society and the Governor is the presi-
dent. Other workers for il are Mrs.
Theodore n. Vail, Mrs Bourke Coch-
ran, Hon. Henry c. Ide Qate minister
to SPAIN and others equally well
known Teachers in both large and
small towns of the Green Mountain
State are straining every nerve, get
ting up entertainments, writing let.
tiers, getting subscriptions and doing
everything possible to raise money
for this cause.
Many citizens there are possibly
of this and others States who owe
| great debts to some old Vermont
teacher. Many Of us can recall men,
| and more especially women, whose
simple, wise unaffected lives as well
as their efficiency as teachers, were
| an influence in our early lives which
| did much to shape our ambitions into
| definite careers of usefulness in one
| direction or another In other words,
| thousands of Vermonters live outside
! of the Green Mountain State who are
able and doubtless willing to help
raise this first and most important
| $4,000 for the Vermont teachers pen
4 or ft,nA L Oh oil l.,s.
| pockets. to speak figuratively or reach
| out for their check books, to speak
more literally, and send contribu-
ton as large as possible or as small
all may be necessary to this good
cause. At ninety-six cents a day the
women teachers of Vermont cannot
lay by anything for the future; but
they are all working for this cause.
Why should not every loyal Vermont
er take a hand and help along this
splendid cause?
We believe the public spirited peo-
pie in every community in Vermont
should become aroused to the neces.
sity OF measures to assure a living
| wage for the women teachers. who in
so many instances arc called upon to
take the place OF parents and espe-
cially of mothers in training the
young lives committed to their care,
or of supplanting home influences.
1t is passing strange that so many
( parents are willing 10 help extort
| from this class of devoted public ser
wants one of the most important and
, preaching kinds of service for the
State and for society in general at
the lowest possible wage.
For those of ample means who are
no longer interested in our public
schools owing to the growing up of
children the opportunity for patriotic
service afforded in this connection is
twofold; the promotion of better wag.
es for teachers and the enlargement
of the teachers retirement fund,
which in this State is in charge OF
the principle Of the high school of St
Johnsbury.
We bespeak for this deserving
fund the hearty cooperation OF the
people of the whole State and gener
Gus contributions on the part of all
possessed of means that will make
such cooperation possible. The teach
ers of Vermont next TO the mothers
of Vermont are to be honored by the
whole State, and we would not forget
those who have been forced to live