Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-12

FOR TEACHERS
TO BE SOUGHT
Proposes Constitutions
al Amendment Pro-
viding Pension Aft
er 80 Years

Old age compensation for teachers
who nave served for thirty years in
the public schools, colleges or uni
versities OF Texas is proposed in a
resolution prepared by NJ. II. Hall
Cameron county attorney. which will
be presented TO the legislature this
week.
The resolution calls for n consti-
tutional amendment which will en-
power the legislature to pass the
necessary measures to provide com.
p~ensation.
The Cameron county attorney will
leave Wednesday night for Austin
and the resolution is expected TO be
presented in the lower house the lat.
ter part OF the week.
The resolution provides that only
teachers who have served thirty con.
secutive years would be eligible Ia
compensation, and the measure
which is expected 10 be passed in
the event the constitutional amend.
ment il adopted, will carry many
features Of the pension provisions
adopted by leading railroads and in
dustrial establishments OF the coun-
try.
States which have adopted old age
compensation for teachers include
New Jersey, which took the initia-
tive In this class Of legislation,
Illinois, New York and California,
Several other states provide modi-
fled forms OF state pensions; and
other states have passed laws grant
ing to cities or school districts the
power TO levy tax for such pur-
pose.
There is not a teacher in the
United States who is not underpaid
IN proportion to the qualifications
expected Hall said in discussing
the proposed constitutional amend
ment. land as n result few of them
remain in the profession more than
a few years. Also, there Is a ten
deney on the part Of other states to
secure the best talent Texas posses
ses by offering more attractive sal
aries.
II believe that any person who
has given thirty years of his or her
life to educational work in the pub
lie schools, colleges or universities
of the state is entitled to .etire
with compensation Under the pres
ent system there is no incentive for
educators to remain in the profess
sion. By many il is regarded
merely a stepping stone to some
thing better. Each year Texas loses
thousands Of its most able teachers
merely because the profession holds
so little for the future.
II believe the people on Texas
would be almost unanimous for
adoption of a constitutional amend
ment giving the legislature the au-
thority to reward those who have
devoted the best years OF their
lives to educational work. The pen
sion system OF the railroads and
major industries have established n
precedent which should be extended
to the state government. 1t is only
justice 70 the teachers TO giys them
the assurance that after they have
served Texas thirty years, they will
be taken care Of"
Mr.. Hall pointed out that in re-
rent years many the leading edu-
Gators OF Texas have gone TO other
states, having been attracted by the
more generous salaries or other Of
fers. He holds the view tkat II the
state assured them compensation
few of the men and women who
have served in Texas schools would
be attracted by CHI offers. I'm
der present conditions, he said, they
are compelled to seek the highest
salaries in order 20 save sufficient
upon which to retire when they no
longer can perform their duties in
the school room.