Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-13
PENSIONS FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS
ers Association State Pensions Would Make for Eici- ency and Retain Here the Teachers State Has Ira aed

In the two meetings of the Eastern Gounecticut Teachers' Association, held in New London and Willimantic last Friday, with an attendance of probably about 500 at both places, one of the topics of importance both to the teachers and to the general public was that of the Pension Situation and Outlook which was the subject for an address by Principal Charles L. Ames Of the Brown School. Hartford. In an address that covered the sub- 1ect very complete and forceful way ne spoke in part as follows:
 The great and strange fact that con- fronts us is this: Connecticut has no pension system for public school teach CTS. "Ah, we knew that before" you say. Truly. but we want you to know 1t with emphasis. and we want you to know what an isolated position Connecticut occupies in the eastern part of this country on the matter of teachers pensions.
 Stands Alone.
 In proof of this isolated position, let me submit a few facts for your con- sideration: First, every state in New England, except Connecticut and New Hampshire, has established a state pension system for teachers.
 Second. state pension systems for teachers are maintained in New York J Virginia. In its refusal to adopt a pension system, acceptable to the teaching force of the state, Connecti- cut, one of the thirteen original states. 9, state of great industry and wealth. stands almost alone among the east ern galaxy of states.
 Third. according to the United States census of 1910, the population of@the six New England states, to- gether with that of New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. was about 22 million of people. More than 20 million of people, out of the 22 million living in those ten states. edu- cate their children in school systems, in which the teachers have an oppor- tunity to retire with a pension after 25 or 30 years of service. Less than two million of people, nearly three fourths of them in Connecticut, out of the 2S million living in those ten states, educate their children in school systems, in which the teachers have no opportunity to retire with pen sion after 25. 30 or 50 years of service. Why this unfair discrimination against cut? Are those 20 million people wrong, and the two million right? We do not think so.
 But there are more contributory facts. In 1913, California established a pension system on a plan that re- QuHcS every tedCH6T 10 COnlrlDuLe one dollar per month; until thirty years of service have been completed, s36O in all, after which she can retire with a pension of $500 year, irrespective of her mental or physical condition, or of her age.
 California has taken a position dis tinctly in advance of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in this matter of eligibility to retirement with pen sion. In those states. the board of re- tirement asks the applicant for a pen sion: How old are you?" If under sixty years of age, the applicant can not be retired with a pension at that time.
 Pertinent Questions.
 In view of what has already been stated, I regard the following as per- tinent questions:
 CD Are the employees of corporations serving under a system of organized charity? We claim that they are not. (2) Is the humanitarian principle in- yolved in their pension systems? The corporations say that it is not (S) pension systems? Mainly as an eco homie measure. They regard it is a good business investment. (1 Does the principle of pensions hold true in the pensioning of public school teach CTS? We believe that it does
 Let me affirm without fear of con- tradiction that Connecticut's geo. graphical position, together with it's strange, isolated policy pertaining to teachers pensions, makes the state a sort of a training school and recruit ing station for teachers for our adjoin- ing states. Said Supt. Maxwell at one of our public hearings: New York city has many of your best teachers and will continue to get more of them every year, unless you do better by your teachers, and offer them more in- ducements to remain at home" For years superintendents from other states have come to Connecticut to