702 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 801 



five-year service period was made by the mem- 

 bers of the Faculty Club of the University 

 of Minnesota at its dinner last night. After 

 a series of spirited talks the executive com- 

 m.ittee was requested by formal motion to pre- 

 pare resolutions expressing the sentiments of 

 the club and to forward them to the trustees. 



Professor John J. Flather, head of the 

 mechanical engineering department, who pre- 

 sided at the dinner, opened the discussion with 

 a brief but complete history of the establish- 

 ment of the Carnegie Foundation for the 

 Advancement of Teaching. 



Mr. Flather devoted much of his address to 

 the clause which grants a pension to professors 

 in accepted institutions who have had a service 

 of twenty-five years. This rule has been so 

 changed that it will only apply to those who 

 are unable to continue their work through 

 disability. 



Mr. Flather said on this point : " Surely, 

 there is no justification for the statement that 

 it was believed that the number of teachers 

 who would avail themselves of retirement 

 under the service provision would be confined 

 almost exclusively to those physically im- 

 paired. 



" Under the provisions of the foundation a 

 teacher, after twenty-five years of service as a 

 professor, was certainly entitled to retire with- 

 out having his motives questioned. The 

 recent action of the board is an unjust reflec- 

 tion upon every professor who has accepted 

 the benefits of the foundation under the 

 service requirements, and in consequence will 

 be resented by every fair-minded person. 



" If the Carnegie Foundation is to advance 

 the cause of education in what better way can 

 the funds be used than to retire certain teach- 

 ers after long and meritorious service? If a 

 man has lost interest or is worn out by the 

 many demands upon his energies after a 

 service of thirty to thirty-five years, why is it 

 not wise to retire him after such service in- 

 stead of waiting until he breaks down alto- 

 gether, or until he reaches the age of 65 years. 

 Most men will desire to teach until the age 

 limit is reached. Why not, therefore, allow 

 the lesser number to retire if thereby the cause 

 of education will be advanced? 



In order to ascertain why college teachers 

 retire Dr. Pritchett sent letters to all teachers 

 on the retired list. From those who had re- 

 tired below the age of 65, after twenty-five 

 years' service in the grade of professor, forty- 

 two letters were received. Of these twelve 

 had retired on the ground of impaired health; 

 ten retired on account of some college com- 

 plication, the resignation of one half of the 

 number having been requested. Of the re- 

 maining twenty, five desired to engage in re- 

 search or other professional labor, two took 

 advantage for family reasons; two thought 

 that younger colleagues ought to have the 

 chance to occupy the position they held; five 

 desired to engage in business; six desired 

 recreation and relief from the recitation and 

 lecture room. 



The average length of service of all the men 

 from accepted institutions who have been re- 

 tired to date is practically thirty-five years, 

 and the average age at retirement 60 years. 



The rules amended by the board of trustees 

 in accordance with the recommendations of 

 its president, provide a retiring allowance 

 for a teacher on two distinct grounds: (1) to 

 a teacher of specified service on reaching the 

 age of 65; (2) to a professor after twenty-five 

 years of service in case of physical disability, 

 or thirty years as professor and instructor 

 together. 



" Although these are the general rules gov- 

 erning retirement, the trustees are neverthe- 

 less willing to grant a retiring allowance after 

 the years of service set forth in Rule 1 to the 

 rare professor whose ability for research prom- 

 ises a fruitful contribution to the advance- 

 ment of knowledge if he were able to devote 

 his entire time to study or research; and the 

 trustees may also grant a retiring allowance 

 after the years of service set forth in Rule 1 

 to the executive head of an institution who 

 has displayed distinguished ability as a 

 teacher and educational administrator. 



" There seems nothing incompatible with 

 the dignity and right of a teacher in retiring 

 for the reasons above assigned. The founda- 

 tion is hot a charity; the retiring allowance 

 is a part of the regular academic compensation 

 and if there is any merit in the service pen- 



