Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-03

workers on similar wages and that
the living standard tor teachers -
constantly rising
The salary situation, therefore,
necessarily cutcIs into the pension
question. ON the present scale of sal
mics In Oklahoma 1t is not possible
Tor teachers ys e. class 10 lay by fu'
, future need sufficient funds 10 make
. surc - comfortable oh age. fhl-
situation should he looked squaroly IN
the face by the citizens 4 Oklahoma
n thcy would preserve the public
school system I'm its present efficiency
and assure a., continued progress for
The future. Tho public should apprc-
ciate this situation and oklaroiud
should swing into line with the 33
other states Of the union which have
I'm some form or other provided pen
sions for their teachers.
Pensions for teachers are justified
for economic. social ana educational
rcasons. Nith incomes in1icGua'c to
/ provide for the future unless pensions
ere paid To- aged and iufirm teachers,
many Individuals viii be retained as
teachers long after their usefulness j."
/ over ana the welfare Of the children
/ IS sacrificed. A satisfactory pension
I nyStem only can prevent the continue
tuu Of teachers worn out and iuyap-
able from age or weakened physical
or mental abilities School Officers
. viii hesitate to dismiss faithful teach
/ els who become lncapaCitatcd and Wh'
/ have no resources to fan back upon.
| II school officers would do SO often
| the aroused conscience Of tho COM
/ munity would prevent the removal of
/ a teacher who has only the almshousc
| for refuge when the salary is dscou-
/ tnuod. Tne tendency In such cases
! Is to sacrifice the pupils to save ;nc
/ teacher. Ihc pension system. There
/ fare, IS economically sound in that II
/ makes for greater efficiency in pro
/ Nldlng for the Wrruuut and Inefficient
| tea her whose place could be filled by
/ one who Is younger and more capable
| Another economic reason for teach
/ crs' pensions IS established by the fact
| that such provision wlll make it un-
| necessary for teachers 10 attempt It.
icck Incomes I'm other lines Of en-
dDtNur 1nd thus ho permitted to give
their whole time to the work of teach
Ing, with tht resulting greater setN-
/ Ice to the pupils. In order to rcrdCr
The most etfiCcnt service tcac le.,
/ must necessarily he separated from
commercial avenues Of iuNostue I.
with the assurance that an adequate
Pension gives, the teacher is relieved
of worry as TO the future and thereby
his teaching power IS increased and
lis value t. the state IN the service TO
It's future citizens is increased BECAUSE
of the greater effectiveness He may
have in an that makes teaching valu-
able I'm the creation of more enlisht'
cucd citizenship.
The maintenance Of a pension sys-
tenn viii also retain for the schools tte
services of able men and women who
Otherwise would leave the work of
teaching and enter more remuacra-
tive pursuits I'm the professional or
commercial world Many industrial
firms ii. in waiting for the brlhaut
teacher knowing fan well that they
can secure his services because of
Willingness to p9v larger salaries The
ability to teach effectively implies
power 20 succeed well in other lines
Of oudclv1r. for which reason teach
ing from time immemoral has been
the stepping stone to larger oppo,
| tuuitics an law, medicine, politics or
the commercial world. At prcsen'
! only about 3 per cent Of the men and
: d. per cent of The women who enter
teaching make 1t permanent career
/ According to the Questlonaire before
referred TO, , per cent of all rura
teachers and 40 per cent of all citS
and town teachers in Oklahoma are
. this year teaching their first school
These inexperienced teachers have
/ taken the places OF teachers who Left
the work at the close of last school
year. Eighteen per cent Of all teach
trs I'm the state have but two years
teaching experience. per cent have
haG five ye1rs experience, and bat 80
teachers out Of The tpta! number re-
porting had tlulht more than twenty
Years. These figures show the lack
d.. ucrmlucncy among Oklahotm.
teachers and cloqucutly procllims the
trcpt need of formulating some plan