The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-13
PEOPLES FORUM
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LEGIS-
LATIVE ASSEMBLY -
Bismarck. N. u.

Gentlemen:
We have been informed that there
u some talk among your members to
repeal the teachers retirement or
pension law and provide nothing in its
place.
ID 1t possible that we have been
correctly informed that this injustice
Is to Be done to those (ruraD teachers
who have many time taken their
dives In their hands, exposing their
health, facing storms, blizxards.
pluneing through snowdrifts with the
Thermometer registering IS degrees
below zero TO go to their school
houses. building their own freq
sometimes freezing their hands and
Iceland then, after making the
room, 16x20 feet, warm and cheerful.
they would welcome from Is to 40
pupils, sometimes thawing out the
little hands and feet Of the future
citizens Of our great state Of North
Dakota? Allow me to give one or
TWO incidents from the experience Of
Q teacher who has had so years in the
schoolroom-who has taught three
generations Of North Dakota children
dating back to territorial. days; but we
will not go farther back than 1906. A
new schoolhouse. l4xl8 feet, was built
SIX miles from her husbands home.
Stead. She taught the school for
40 salary and did her own janitor
work. She drove to and from her
school for two months, then one of
the 1iercest Of winters set In. which
made 1t impossible for her to drive.
Her husband loaded q sleigh with
bedding and provisions, and after two
hours Of ploughing and shoyelirlk
through drifts from IL to 20 feet hich.
reached the school. There this teacher
stayed. Many times she kept the
whole school al night. making beds
on the floor, desks and seats while
abe kept the fire burning 70 keep
the pupils from freezing to death. the
bltSsard raging. the wind threatening
% carry away the roof.
Her husband frose his feet il trying
TO reach the teacher with the neces-
sary food. Scores Of incidents could
e related when this teacher. with
three grandchildren dependent on
their grandparents, faced cold. driv-
ing and walking to get to her WORK.
In 1025-1026. ct the age OF 10. shn
walked six miles a day, taught seveH
grades. besides caring for q sick hus1
Dana ana 4-year-old great-grand.
osuenter. In February, 1927, her hus-
nand died. A few minutes after he
nad breathed his last. her mail was
brought 70 her. which contained her
iirst voucher for Z teachers pension
OF $3.50 quarterly. or t3o.16 2/3 Der
month. She exclaimed: AOh. whv
could not Robert have known this?-
1or ne had said, when he knew he
must leave me: I an 30 glad yoal ara
@ ct that pension, for you and Iittle
davts." This teacher lay ct death,s
door II q hospital In Minneapolis last
June, but, sitter 4 miraculous operaXl
tion, recovered, came back ia Nom.
tosh county In August. rentad two
heated rooms las she had sacrificacl
her home to pay hospital oxnensal.
ana went % light housekeeping. New
years night she mat With: a acci-
oent 70 the spine and . complete
nervous collapse followed and today
sne - lying on her bed, where aha
has bsen confined for - days.
she had only received one years
penelit from the teachers' pension.
ana now. nearly q years Of aee. With
cnlloren dependent on her. %, Won
going 70 take this t2o.l6 as away
from her? MOL There Is too much
manhood and grateful lStherhood
among you.
North Dakota gave thousands Of
dollars honua u thai. aoiA1nsr 8 ~n.s.~