Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-03-19
SUBSTITUTE FOR
SCHOOL PENSIONS
Teaching Profession Much Interest
ed i'm Plan to Provide for Old
Age
FUND no BE CREATED
By TEACHERS THDEMSELVES
State Administration Welfare As
sOciation Proposed, With Future
Beneficiaries Contributing
From 1 to Per Cent
- of Their Wages

Des Moines, lathe school teach
ing profession is much interested in
the bill of Senator Grenell, of Cir
ton county, which friends of tie
measure declare will, put the teach
ing profession on an independent and
selfsupportingr basis. And while do
ing this, the friends point out, the
plan adequately conserves the inter-
ests Of the children who attend the
public schools and will relieve school
authorities of the disagreeable nee
essity Of removing teachers who have
become incapacitated but for whose
support there is no, possible provis-
ion. Senator Grenell's measure does
this without establishing a pension
COR teachers.
His plan provides for the establish
ment of a state-administered well
fare association for Iowa teachers.
Members of, the association will pay
into it from l to > per cent of their
salaries as they themselves may de-
eide. If within twenty years they de-
eide to quit teaching the state will
ay them back their money with i y
ler cent compound interest.
If, after teaching between twenty
and twenty-five years they want to
retire the state will pay them back
their money with four and half per
cent interest and a bonus amounting
TO one-quarter OF the amount paid in.
If they retire after teaching between
twenty-five and thirty years they will
get back their money and interest
and bonus of fifty per cent Of the
amount they have paid in. II they
cult teaching after serving between
thirty and thirty-five years they will
get their money back and interest
and a bonus of seventy-five per cent
of the amount they have paid in.
And if they teach thirty-fve years
and retire they will get their money
and interest and back pay amount.
ing to 100 per cent of the amount
they have paid into the fund not ex-
ceeding $1,000. ..-
Supporters of the Gerenell bill see
in it only plan to put teachers OF
the state on. somewhat the same foot
ing as judges and army otacers.
Since they give their whole time to
the state they are unable to build ur
a business whose earnings may pro-
vide them with income after age
has incapacitated them for service.
Inasmuch as teachers are notori-
ously underpaid the Grenell plan
merely provides for giving them at
the end OF twenty, twenty-five, thirty
or thirty-five years service In lump
sum a small share of the wages
hich have been earned but not
paid during their service, provided
they put into the hands of the state
from one to five per cent of their
annual earnings to accumulate a
fund by which to measure the
amount that the state shall give
them when they retire.
The Grenell bill provides for non
paid commission of state officers to
administer the fund and that the
state shall keep the money OF the
fund loaned out. The margin OF earn
ings to the profit Of the state, II Is
estimated. will soon provide the
funds for liquidating all or the
obligations to the teachers incurred
under the plan. The measure VIII
probably take the place Of all teach
ers pension legislation.