The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-31
School Teachers Want
A ct Providing fo r
Retireme ent With
Pay From State
OFFICERS FOR
1915 ELECTED
Treasurer Keck Is Continued in Same
Office for Twenty Year-De-
clares He Wants to See Brumbaugh
President of United States

AT the closing session of the Penn
sylvania State Educational Association
at Technical High school this morning,
it was voted to recommend to the next
Legislature the adoption of an act for
the retirement of superannuated and in
capacitated teachers of the State, sug-
gestions were made by Chairman f. E.
Downes, of the legislative committee,
resolutions presented by the committee
for that purpose were adopted, minor
changes were made in the wording of
the constitution of the association,
Scranton was selected as the next meet
ing place, officers were elected for the
ensuing year and adjournment followed.
The officers as nomin; ted by com
mittee and unanimously elected, are:
President, H. III. Baish, of Altoona; sec
ond. vice president, Miss Margaret Ma
guire, of Philadelphia; secretary, DIR.
j. P. McCaskey, of Lancaster; treasurer,
David S. Keck, of Kutztown; member
executive committee, Clifford B. Con-
nelly, Pittsburgh, and representative of
general association in the educational
council, C. D. Kock, of Harrisburg. The
treasurer, David S. Keck, was to-day
elected to that office for the twenty
ond consecutive year. He was voted an
increase in salary.
Provisions of Pension Act
The tentative act for the retirement
of Pennsylvania teachers, as submitted
by the educational council for the con
sideration of the members of the asso-
citation, provides that all teachers shall
contribute from their salaries toward
the proposed. pension fund, the pensions
to be paid to those who are retired at
60 years of age, having taught no less
than thirty years, out of the money con
tributed by themselves, together with
funds appropriated for the purpose by
the Legislature.
In the preliminary discussion of the
act, it was pointed out that there are
now in this country total of 1900
pension bills of various kinds in opera
tion, that in but two States are the
teachers pensions paid by State ap-
preparation only, and that the amounts
paid in those States are very low. 1t
is believed that under the provisions Of
the proposed act, the State would pay
about half of the required pension
money, the teachers themselves paying
the other half. Such am arrangement,
however, is not definitely called for in
the act as drafted.
Revision of Laws Wanted
Superintendent Downes, of the Har-
risburg public schools, as chairman of
. the legislative committee presented a
recommendation that the succeeding
Legislative committee direct its efforts
toward the providing of AN increased
appropriation for the public schools of
the State, so that teachers may receive
the increased minimum salary of five
dollars a month as provided in the
School Code, that the work of vocation
al schools may be continued and their
field of operation extended, and that
the general aid to all school directors
be increased; also toward providing for
the revision of laws relating to rural
education, for State wide plan for the
retirement of teachers in conformity
with the educational councils report,
and finally for revision of the present
child labor laws, particularly in order
that educational and health tests NAV
be less flexible and that labor certif-
Gates when not in use be returned.
RESOLUTIONS adopted at the suggestion
of the resolutions committee, w. s.
HertZog, chairman, We're to the effect
that at least two inspectors of rural
schools be appointed, that the legisla-
tive committee work for a biennial an
preparation in the Legislature of twenty
million dollars for the public schools.
that more money be set apart for reg
ular high school appropriations, that
larger sums be paid toward NONRESIDENT
high school tuitions, that a more ade-
quate amount be appropriated for nor
NAL schools, that provisions of the
school code with reference to minimum
salary be made effective by adequate
appropriation, that the efforts of the
department of public instruction in or
ganizlng agricultural and vocational
schools be approved; that appreciation
be expressed for the services of officers
and committees and for the welcome ex-
tended by teachers, citizens, press and
local school board, and that DIR. Mar
tin u. BrumIbaugh, a member of the as
sociation, be congratulated upon his re.
cent election as Governor of Pennsvl-
wanna.
Favors Brumbaugh for President
Treasurer Keck, in presenting his re-
Poi' " ~ "hiSh uiC SdNo JHlS ClpN and fUS
superintendent, DIR. Downes, special
credit for its large enrolment, express.
ed satisfaction that DIR. Brumbaugh at
tendod this year s session as Governor
elect of Pennsylvania, and uttered the
hope that at the 1916 session DIR. Brum-
baugh would be present as President
elect of the United States. Applause
followed the statement.
There was no opposition to Scranton
as the seat of next year s convention
Wilkes4Barre had been in the field, but
withdrew in favor of Scranton.
Addresses preceding this morning Is
business session were made by DR..
Nathan C. Schaeffer, superintendent of
public instruction on "The Peace
Movement and by DIR. w. Grant
Chambers, of the University of Pitts.
burgh, on "The Rural School of the
Future
Last Nights Addresses
Addresses before the teachers at the
Technical auditorium last night, were
delivered by DR.. Edward Howard
Griggs, of New York City, on g s'Educa.
tion for the Art of Life" and by DIR
M ~ ffSr