The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-01-20
PLAN CHANGES in
TEACHERS Law
Retirement Fund Legisla-
ton to Come up at the
Present Session.
ACTION Is IMPERATIVE


A new teachers pension law, to re-
quire teachers to pay five per cent Of
their annual salary into teachers
retirement fund, which would be IN
creased by contributions from the
state. will be recommended in the re-
port of the legislative committee, it
was stated in Madison yesterday
The committee recently concluded a
years investigation Of the teachers
pension system. The report, which
will be made public soon, recommends
that the tax be made on all teachers
over 25 years of age and that it en-
brace teachers in normal schools and
on the university staff.
At present, teachers are required to
contribute two per cent of their sal
aries to the support of the fund and
must be in service at least rs years
before they can benefit by the fund.
The bill which the committee recon-
mends would allow them to retire at
any time, but specifies that the
amount Of the pension would be de-
termined by the amount Of their con-
tributions and the number of years
employed.
Action Imperative
The committee, of which Senator
Antoine Kuckuk, Shawano, is chair
man, examined more than 1000 teach
ers in the course Of its inquiry. 9th
er members of the committee are:
Senator George B. Skogmo, River
Falls; Assemblymen Riley S. Young
Darien; r, M. Hansen, Waupaca
sounty; and John T. Williams. Iowa
county
"The present Wisconsin tecahers'
retirement fund is in such straight
ened financial condition that some ac-
tion must be taken BY the legislature
to put it on sound and financial
footing said Mr.. Kuckuk. with the
cooperation of teachers an inter-
ested people of the state, new plan
has been worked out which greatly
changes the scope Of the present law
First Of all, every teacher who has
made contributions to the present
teachers fund will receive all of the
benefits promised. Their every right
and privilege has been sacredly guard
cd in working out the plan.
"The tentative plan, which we are
developing, will open not only to the
teachers outside of Milwaukee, but
to normal school teachers and the uni
versity staff, if the legislature so de-
sires. The essential point in the new
plan is that it is designed to aid in
old age the teacher who desires to
dedicate her life to the state. Under
the present law, each teacher is con-
tributing, from one to two per cent of
her annual salary to the support of
the fund, In round numbers, IL 900. of
these teachers. according to the sta
tistics gathered, never intended to fol
low the teaching profession.
Would Help All.
To meet the objection of teachers
who do not intend to continue as such,
the suggested plan asks for no contri.,
button from teacher under % years
of age. 1t is proposed to take con-
tribution out of the teachers salary of
5 per cent. At the end of each year.
the state will make contribution de-
termined by the amount of the teach
ers' deposits and increasing with the
length of service.
"Under the new plan, q teacher
whose service has brought her an an
nual income Of 5000 will have built up.
at the age of SO, a fund of $4,951 and
will be entitled to an annuity of 1886
while she lives. The same teacher, at
The same salary, retiring at the age
IF 55 would have an annuity of $518;
at the age Of so, $791; and at the age
of IS, $1,2o7.
"The plan has many advantages
over the present system. 1t will re-
store the present fund to a stable
financial and sound undertaking.
Teachers who do not continue to
teach after they are % are not affect
and the great number of teachers
who never intend to remain in serv-
ice are not bothered by assessments. 2
More than three hundred Kenosha
county teachers are now active contrib
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