In defense of teachers

Editor:

I am writing this in response to the column “Selfishness is selfishness, with or without a union label” by George Weigel (March 25). I truly resent Mr. Weigel’s comments about public school teachers.

I am a public school teacher. Obviously, he is not a part of the teaching profession. I would like to know what Mr. Weigel considers to be a “handsome” salary. My salary sufficiently helps to pay my bills along with my husband’s salary. We live in a very modest home, one my husband grew up in, and live a very modest lifestyle. We do not take extravagant vacations, own real estate other than our home and are still paying the debt on our children’s education. Our children are grown and we do look forward to retiring some day. As far as pensions go, I pay into my pension every year. It is not a free ride. I also pay a portion of my health benefits and will be required to pay even more for them as time goes on. I am not complaining. I just want your readers to understand that public school teachers are not handed things free of charge.

I officially work at my school from the beginning of September through the middle to end of June. Yes, I am “off” July and August and will not apologize for that. This is not my choice but the way the scheduling is set up in our area for our school children. I am not paid for my summers off, so it is no different than anyone else who works seasonally. I budget through my pay periods for my summer expenses.

While I agree that our public education needs some improvement, I can also say the same thing about our business community, our government and our church. Yes, there are teachers who are a disgrace to our profession. However, there are also businessmen and women, government officials and even religious about whom we can say the same things. I resent your insinuation that it is “virtually impossible to fire a teacher even if they commit a felony.” I personally don’t work with any felons — do you?

Finally, you question our moral responsibility to the next generation. We all have a moral responsibility to our children and grandchildren to secure a more promising future for them. Isn’t that what our parents and grandparents wanted for us as well? My parents blamed the government for our problems. You blame the unions. Who will the next generation blame? Don’t be naive. The world is a constantly changing environment. There will always be problems and there will always be those who throw the blame for those problems. The responsibility comes in the form of education. I have educated my children in both academics and morals. That’s what my parents did for me and I can honestly say that my life has been better for it. Has it been a perfect life? No. But as a devoted Catholic, I know that will come afterward.

Patricia Bonin

Sewell