Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-01-14
TEACHER PENSION
LAW IS ENDORSED

TTEARTY endorsement for the
proposed new teachers retire
ment law was given by the Mon
tana Education association at its re-
cent meeting. The action followed it's
presentation by Payne Templeton of
Kalispell, chairman of a special COM
mitee, and after extensive discussion
of its provisions.
Roughly the law contemplates a
payment by the teacher of 4 per cent
of his salary, matched by the state to
provide an annuity at the end of 35
years of service or at the age of 65,
equal to half the teachers average
salary.
The associations action carried
with it approval Of a repeal measure
to do away with the present retire
ment law, whose beneficiaries are
provided for in the new measure.
Payne Templeton, superintendent
of schools at K~alispelI, was elected
president of the association, succeed
ing Ira L. Fee, Missoula. Vice presi-
dents, elected without opposition, are
d. S. Williams, Bozeman, and A. O.
Gullldge, Baker. Selection of a secre-
tary-treasurer remains with the ex-
ecutive council.
The association approved a rather
extensive program of legislative rec
concentrations, including provision
for adequate state support for ele-
mentary schools and a lowering of
district responsibility; provision for
adequate evenu for the University
of Montana IN Tho nx~trot,o~ - H.
present educational levy period; bet
ter distribution systems for special
state taxes which support the
schools; establishment of qualifica-
lions for county superintendent and
state superintendent; certification
of provate school teachers and H.
nancial support for the proposed Bill
ings normal college.
1t endorsed the request OF the state
board of education that the governor
call a conference of representative
citizens to outline a complete educa-
tional program for the state.
Approving a report of a special
committee which found that payment
of tax levies by the government In
stead of tuition for Indian children in
the schools. the association continued
the committee to look into the matter
of tax payments on land in private
hands, including that in irrigation
projects.
Differing little from the old form,
a new constitution was adopted by
the association. Its principal change
in the requirements that proposed
amendments must be published in an
issue Of the associations journal pri-
or to the convention at which they
are to be voted upon.
The schedule of dues-2 per cent
of the teachers salary-was retained.
A committee on extra-curricular
activities reported thit its investiga-
tons disclosed a recognizable minori-
ty feeling that. interscholastic activi-
ties are over-emphasized, a positive
expression that intramural activities
are underemphasized, that college
and non-schOlastic agencies are not
sources of difficulty and that state
championships defeat the true pur-
pose OF interscholastic activities. The
small margin by which this express
sion was obtained impelled the COM
mittee to ask a further investigation
as to the feeling In this respect.
Tighter labor laws affecting MI
nors was urged with the expressed
belief that the result would permit
existing agencies to satisfactorily
handle the problem of school attend
ance.
Extension of federal cooperative
work in agriculture and home econo-
mics but added requirements that the
courses meet college entrance re-
Quirements, that participation be
limited to schools with a certain
minimum enrolment and that the
hours Of these courses correspond
with others, was advised.