The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-05
TEACHERS PENSION
HEARINGS BEGIN

Hearings on the Mapes bill provid-
ing for a retirement system for teach
ers in the public schools of the Dis
trict of Columbia began this morn
ing before the District Committee Of
the House.
President George Hamilton, OF the
Board of Education made the open
ing statement for the teachers and
directed the hearing Of their side OF
the case. He urged the passage or
legislation creating a pension system
of some kind and personally Endorsed
the pending bill.
Superintendent of Education Err
nest l. Thurston declared that under
the present system, with no proYl-
sion for pensions, the teachers have
not that incentive which they would
otherwise have to remain in the
school system. The present average
salary of teachers in Washington. in
GLIDING longevity pay and the bonus
is only $1,100, he said.
FavOrs Higher Salaries.
Mr.. Thurstoh went on record as ia
voring higher basic salary for kim
dergarten and lower grade teachers.
Commissioners Louis Brownlow ana
".
principle of the bill, but the latter
recommended that a provision be writ
ten into the measure making it oper-
ate on the same principle as that now
in force for fremen and policemen.
The bill provides that a separate &C
count shall be kept for each teacher.
Mr. Gardiner suggested that all
moneys be paid into a common fund
and that the Government guarantee
the payment of the pension, just as
II guarantees the salary from year
TO year.
would Make For EfAcIeney.
Mr. BrownIow held that pension
system would make for efficiency and
for better system.
THE pension system is a principle
that ought to be recognized not only
for the teachers, but for all Govern
ment departments that are perma-
nent," Mr.. Brownlow said. This
principle is already in vogue in many
Industrial corporations"
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. chairman
OF the District body of the Woman's
National Civic Federation, appeared
on behalf Of the Organization she rep
resents to make a plea for a system
that will relieve the teachers mind
which is continually worried and
harassed over what is to become OF
her when she grows old in the serv-
ice, with no provision made for
her future"
Congressman Burdick asked Mr..
Gardiner il it were not true that
many teachers in the District system
today are so old that they should be
retired. Mr.. Gardiner said that it
was true. He .said he did not know
just how many there were that come
in this class.
Urges Speedy Action.
This matter has been dragging
along for years" said Mr.. Gardiner,
II want to urge that something be
done without further delay, that safe
guards may be thrown about our
teachers"
DR.. Hugh s. Magill, deld secretary
of the National Educational Associa-
ton, urged the passage of the mea-
sure. Thirty-ive States have already
enacted similar legislation, he said,
and none of them have gone back to
the old system. In most cases, he
pointed out, there have been amend
mentS, broadening the scope of the
pension system.
The teachering profession is fast
deteriorating," declared DR.. MagiH,
and Congress is shortly going to
have to face problem. Many of II
children today are being EuropeaniIed
by teachers who speak with a foreign
accent. who have foreign ideals ard
instill into the children in America
foreign ideals that are undermining
our nation.
Tens OF thousands of women who
were formerly among the best teach
ere in other sections of the country
are today at work in Washington in
Government departments because
they were unable to live on the sal
aries they received back home as
teachers. 1.-The remedy" he pointed
out, "is to make conditions inviting
and salaries adequate"