The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-25
School Teacher Improves With
 Age
BY THE OUT EASTER

The poor school teacher sure- ly has her troubles.
 Here is Mayor LaGuardia of New York facing an audience of college students, all seeking posi- tions in the over crowded teach ing field, and telling them the retirement age should be reduced from 70 to 65 years. New York has 792 teachers between 65 and 70 years of age. The Sun says editorially that "The Mayor would march these teachers from their desks and replace them with new college graduates"
 And then what?" The Sun asks.
 And 1t says further, "To help these the mayor would force out these 792 experienced teachers"
 Eere in Waterbury, we seem to find disposition on the part of school authorities to force out long and experienced teachers. Th3se in authority, just like the New York mayor, seem to think that they themselves are never go- ing to grow old. Our feeling is they figure, that age will never creep around the corner" on them.
 But it will, just like it has on the thousands of young of yester- day.
 The old saying. "The young of today are the old of tomorrow" follows along today just as it has done since the beginning of time.
 The school teacher of Water bury, and other places is a much forgotten person. Her work in the primary, in the grades, and in high school can only be ap- preciated by those who occasionally have an opportunity to sneak in" and observe the various teach CTS in their class work. We have done this ourselves many times; we have watched them in their endeavors; we have noticed them in their motherly care toward the little ones; we have observed their patience and consideration for their young charges: we have seen their display of personal in- terest in the neglected child, both in nourishment and dress, and we have, known of many instances where their weekly income has counted in the betterment of vari- ous children under their charge
 For our part we feel inwardly for the public school teacher of Waterbury; we think much of her; we glory in her achievements, what she has done and what she will continue to do until Time comes along and takes her away from the teaching staff of our school system.
 For our part we feel inwardly for the public school teacher of Waterbury; we think much of her; we glory in her achievements, what she has done and what she will continue to do until Time comes along and takes her away from the teaching staff of our school system.
 It is seldom that parents in- terest themselves in just what is being done by the school teacher in behalf of their chilrren. Many leave it all to the teacher, and sometimes, sad to relate, blame her for the n-advancement of their child, when the fact Is little effort is made at home for im- proved study.
 Waterbury has the reputation of having many high grade teachers. They live for the real good they might do to those placed in their care. Just now they are on vaca- tion, but the term is really short, and they'll soon be back in their rooms for the long Fall term.
 AS the Sun truthfully says, Tn a position like teaching, where knowledge and skill increase with length of service, fitness cannot be determined solely by the cal endar."
 A truer statement was never uttered, we believe. We think it should sink into the mind of the board of education and be care- fully weighed by that body in its future consideration of the retire. ment of the good school teacher of Waterbury.
 After all, there's an old familiar saying, Chickens come home to roost."
 And 1t may be that the mem- bers may feel this in their own particular line some day.