Teachers have paid their fair share

Based on Rosemary Colbert’s letter to the editor of July 6, I am wondering if she understands what a teacher actually does and sacrifices to do his/her job. Ms. Colbert believes that teachers should “give back” to help correct the pension dilemma. She tries to equalize the situation for the private sector who should “give back.”

Teachers have “given back” during their entire careers by faithfully educating our youth and have “given back” by paying 9 percent of their salaries to the pension system. Teachers have given back over their entire careers by not making the same high salaries as those in the private sectors with equal education and training. Teachers have “given back” by having an average Illinois pension of less than $50,000 and have given back by not being eligible for Social Security or having to take a greatly reduced Social Security payment.

I am hoping that Ms. Colbert can realize that the pension problem is a result of government officials like Michael Madigan and our previous governors who have borrowed from the systems so they did not have to raise taxes and could therefore help themselves politically. Ask for them to correct the problems, not the teachers who faithfully served the educational needs of our youth and faithfully paid their fair share.

Don Rowley

Arlington Heights