Teacher pay debate rooted in economy

I find it entertaining to read the letters from teachers defending their difficult job and reasonably high salaries. With all their degrees they hold, they seem not have an understanding of economics.

Since schools generate no revenue, all of there funding comes from state and local taxes. The issue is taxes. No one questions the value that a good school system brings to a community, but the days of unlimited funding for schools needs to come to an end.

With the economy slowing down, middle class and blue collar salaries reaching there limits, apparently the education system does not care.

Out of the current taxes that I pay, more than 50 percent go to District 211 and District 15. My house is already overvalued and with the taxes levied on it, it would be difficult to find a buyer in today's market.

People today are more worried about being able to afford living in a community rather than if the school district has a blue ribbon and the teachers have multiple degrees.

I am an engineer and make a decent salary, but so far, the cost of education has been exceeding any increases I get. That's just reality of the middle class.

If you are angry about the perception of teachers, remember it is the actions of your union and the actions you have taken in the past and present that got you here.

Teachers have over inflated what value they bring to a community and the value of property and at some point the community is going to want to know what it is getting for its investment.

David Njaastad

Palatine