In the 9/5/11 "It's all public money," the writer contends public teachers should quit complaining about those attacking public pensions. The writer notes pensions provided public teachers are guaranteed, no matter what the markets return, while private retirement plans such as IRA's fluctuate with the owner having to make up the difference.

Interesting points, but short in providing the complete picture. The writer fails to recognize that salaries of public teachers fall short of those in many private and public sector professions. There are no bonuses for public teachers. Teachers also pay a fixed percentage of their base salary into their retirement plan.

At $40,000 to $50,000 a year in a typical salary, there is very little extra left for a teacher to invest in a private retirement plan given the typical costs to live month to month. What type of pension does a teacher earn at the end of a 30 year career? Most earn a pension in the $20,000 to $30,000 per year range, and in some districts the employee must pick up the full costs of retiree medical. The reality is not much is left to live on month to month. Compound this with the fact that most Californians are also not aware that teachers will not be eligible for full Social Security Benefits.

There may be excesses in some public sector pensions. Public teachers clearly should not be lumped into that category. The teaching profession is far from lucrative. Teachers are highly committed to their profession and the children that depend on them. They put in long hours with no overtime compensation. They simply hope for fair compensation and treatment. The prior writer does a disservice to the overall pension debate by focusing on the "public money" aspect of a teacher's retirement. Of course it is public money, but teaching is more than a public service. It's an investment in our young people and our own community. Given the high level of responsibility teachers have to our society, is it really asking too much to attain a fair wage and a reasonable retirement?

Hopefully, as the pension debate continues, the public will be informed by accurate facts and public policy choices rather than misinformation and half truths.


Marisa Emlen and Linda Phelan
Parents and Educators