Teachers deserve good pensions

Mr. Ken Hofrichter of Elk Grove writes that school districts' "wasteful spending on retirement enhancements do absolutely nothing to improve the education of students and do not put students first."

He refers to Elgin District U-46. He states that almost 58 percent of students in this district are from low-income families.

Let me pose a question. If you are a teacher looking for employment and have made yourself liable to repay loans for your education to the tune of say $200,000 - minimum this is just a guess. could be more - would you take a job in a school district that does not offer a retirement package? Are there any districts that do not offer a pension program?

Like government workers, teachers are not eligible for Social Security. nor are police or firemen or postal employees. So, with low-income families, don't we need the finest quality teachers helping these students to be the best they can be? Students from low-income families are possibly missing a parent in the home, could be possible gang members and very likely are the hardest students to educate and teach self-respect.

It takes a long time to pay off college student loans, hundreds of dollars monthly for years. Believe me, repayment can be like another mortgage payment. I'm thinking there would not be much opportunity to save for retirement or invest in a retirement account of some type, so a pension is a highly desirable income, just as health benefits are.

By the way, teachers are also taxpayers so some of that "district taxpayers money" comes directly from the teachers themselves

I am not a teacher but I admire and respect teachers greatly. I would not begrudge a pension to a teacher anymore than I would begrudge one to a policeman or fireman.

Linda Kimsey

Streamwood