The Washington times., 1916-11-16
Some Teachers Who Are
Eagerly Awaiting the Pas
sage of the Pension Bill
Tell Their Stories and Ex-
plain Just What 1t Means
To Them.
Soldiers Receive Pensions"
They Assert, "Why Not
We, Who Train the Future
GenerationS?" Congress
Has Not Yet Framed An
Answer.
w THAT can you do for the teach
M ers' pension law?
w Do you know about It? DO

u
NM ers' pension law?
wv Do you know about It? DO
you believe II II needed?
Perhaps the stories OF some OF he
teachers will convince you.
Last winter a teacher whose public
school record runs well up toward the
twoscore mark was injured by bad
fall She had no other source of income
than her salary as a teacher. Members
of her family were dependent upon her
pay envelope. In poor physical condi-
tlon she crept back to work, to struggle
! along as best she might
In other schools teachers in their late
mites and early sixties manage to re-
port for duty year after year because a
future without a salary seems a hope
less period OF dependence.
No taxpayer wishes his child's educa-
| ton entrusted to a teacher old enough
to be his grandmother one whose physi-
| cal condition may preclude the adeauate
performance Of her duties.
Compared With Soldiers.
The United States cares for It's regu.
larly enrolled soldiers. After the civil
war men who had been with the army
| OF the republic killing men. were award
ed pensions with scarcely Congres-
| sional murmur
The army that has had the guidance
OF citizens OF the future-the schoo,
teachers OF America-receives no pension
and Kills no human beings In the per-
Torrance OF it's duty.
Soldiers do not have to pay one cent
from their wages toward their pen
| sions. Where teachers pension laws
do, exist. certain percentage OF their
slaries is invariably deducted.
| For the regularly enrolled teach
ers there is no national pension law.
| 1t seems. An honorable discharge
| with a pensions a thing practically
unknown in educational annals.
Some States Make Trial.
| In one or two States pension law,
' Of sort are receiving a trial. Each
teacher of New York has / per cent
OF her pay automatically deducted
| every year. Those who have served
for a stated number OF years may b,
retired ION n pension. and a meaEer
| one at that.
The confusion resulting from the
stampede OF teachers eligible for re.
tirement under this plan and the fail
ure to make the assessments meet
pension payments has plunged this
! time can solve.
The Washington teachers are wis.
| err. They are securing the services OF
an expert in drafting the plan for
the details OF the plan have seeped
out the enthusiasm OF the assembl ed
faculties OF the graded and high
schools knows no bounds.
Women Pray for Pension.
1t Is TO the women that the idea
seems to have greatest appeal. WON.
en- who see a happy future ahead OF
| them, who regard the fund sanely az
an investment that Will bring In safe
and certain returns.
You don't know how I am praying
for that pension scheme to be adopt
ed" said one who has been teaching
nearly thirty years: 1T means that
we will be able to deposit our money
with the Government as II in a saw
ings bank. drawing high interest. As
an investment for the woman who
! has no knowledge OF stocks and bonds
! the pension fund Will be ideal.
Every teacher Is bound to he wor-
ried over her future in the years