The Washington times., 1915-11-16
Henry P. Blair Tells Monday
Evening Club Legislation
Must Be Passed Soon.
MANY FACING RETIREMENT
Women Who Have Taught For
Years May Be Forced Out
m Near Future.

Unless a retirement system soon Ia
effected for Washington school cachcrs
the Board of Education will ind II
necessary to retire, without pensions.
scores OF teachers long In the service.
Tor whom retirement will mean great
hardship and perhaps actual want.
This announcement was made by
Henry p. Blair. president of the Boar.
OF Education, last evening before the
Monday Evening Club, when he made
association in helping to bring about
what he said was the most urgent need
Of tho school system, q teachers re-
tirement law.
Hundreds OF teachers now are being
retained In the system. ne explained,
who have served the schools long and
well. in the hope that some pension
plan will be devised in time for them to
take advantage OF II.
Problem Becomes Acute.
But tho problem has become so
acute" MIR. Blair said. that within a
short time consideration for the pupils
must outweigh the consideration for
those teachers of long and honorable
service who have given their lives to
the schools OF Washington"
Ernest l.. Thurston. superintendent of
schools. told of the needs of the night
schools. In response to a question about
the medical inspectors In schools. Mr..
Blair later hlnted that the Board of
Education had included in the estimates
Tor the coming year an item for the
employment OF physician who shall
give his entire time TO school work.
speaking of the need Of teachers
retirement fund Mr.. Blair said the con-
growing more serious each yeah.
Salaries are now fairly good" he
said. but they were not always that
way, 1t Is all right to talk about saw
ing. but in days past. when the pay OF
teachers was barely sufficient for their
living needs. It was impossible to save
money. Consequently 1t would mean,
TOR many veteran teachers. a cruel
system without some form Of pension.
'Thirty-four of forty -eight States
now have teachers retirement laws of
som. sort. There Is no reason why
city's government should any longer be
allowed to stand in the way Of some
similar provision here. Other capitals.
N other nations. are endeavoring to
but We are handicapped by the neces-
sity. In common humanity, OF carrying
on the rolls teachers who ought. long
ago, to have been retired"
The teachers need a pension law. the
speaker said. but the children need it
"At the very period when pupils de-
moral and mental training" he went
on, I'VE are compelled to place them in
the hands OF teachers who ought to be
the beneficiaries Of the city. instead of
struggling on to go to school day by
day
Other needs OF the schools, Mr.. Blair
pointed out. are Increased pay for cer-
tain classes OF employees and teachers.
N-h sl-a
training work in the grades; an appro-
priaton for school Fairgrounds. which
would obviate the present system OF
collections and entertainments: a fund
TO provide street car transportation
free for those pupils who must go a
long way from home to attend typical
and other special schools. and lump
sum Appropriation for the use OF the
hoard OF Education as emergencies
arise.
Need More Publicity.
Might schools here need more pub
iicity," said Ernest l.. Thurston. super
intsndent of schools. in telling or the
needs OF the night schools.
He described the various lines of work
done in the night schools. and com
mended the economy which had made
possible last year Young people at
tend these schools, and study, .lde D.,
side. with gray-haired pupils. he
pointed to one school where children
and their grandparents both were en-
rolled In the same classes. The older
people had gone SO they might learn TO
read their Bibles, he said.
Mr.. Thurston laid emphasis on the
need for better service among the for
eigners. There are 400 here this year
enrolled in night schools. The schools
have been unable to respond fully to the
request OF the Department of Labor
that civics instruction be given to these
new citizens because of lack OF funds.
II have hope that. In time. the
night schools will offer every opor-
tunity. offered by day schools Mr..
night school class Is not hard to test
n the classes give pupils something
they wish they will come: II not the
class will disorganize itself. because
they will stay away. The attendance
at night schools IL the best proof that
they wish. though we may not be CIV
Ing them all We wish We could"
The night schools. the superintendent
Raid. come close to the problems of the
home. He pointed to the cooking. Sow
ing and millinery classes at Mckinley.
whore the training has direct effect
on home. economics because they point
ways for wiser expenditure. He said
he hoped to have In both dav and night
schools courses In home economies.
Think OF the transforna ton In our
city's life" he said. which could bH
accomplished without any increases OF
salaries II suddenly all the homes of
the community were run efficiently
The change would be startling"
Speakers Questioned.
Walter $. Ufford. president OF the
Monday Evening Club, turned the meet.
ing over to w. B. Patterson. supervls-
ing principal, who introduced the
speakers. Following their talks they
were piled with questions. In the au'
dience We're Ernest r. Daniel and Mrs
Edith Kingman Kern, OF the Board oi
Fduca tion. A welcome was extended to
Mrs; Ernest p. Bicknell. former presi.
dent OF the club, who has lust returned
with Mr.. Bckncl. from the war zone
where he was directing relief work oi
tho American Red Cross,
These we're admitted to membership
after the meeting: DR. and Mrs. w. G.
Rarr. Miss Nettie r. Browne. Mr. and
Mrs. Edward r. Clark. Rev. w. l.. De
Nries Miss Ada a. Tanner. Miss An
'0inctto Tanner. Miss Eliza Tonks, Miss
''harloite \. Van Doren, T. w. Walton
Miss T. p. wilde, Miss Clara Carney
Miss Grace r. Mead, Miss Anna
Rochester. Sidney Roche Miss Marga,
rot Thompson, J, X. Hunter. Miss cara
r. Ross. DR. BENJAMIN S. Warren anC
"dsar Eydenstoucker.