Letters: Higher teacher pay is money well spent

Re “Boom times for the lottery,” Jan. 6

I was offended by comments in your article stating that the lottery money “doesn’t often go to helping students” and that “most lottery funds given to K-12 schools are used to pay salaries and benefits.”

As a K-12 school psychologist, I have both observed and personally experienced the impact that salaries and benefits can have on students. As is true for most of us, teachers’ salaries affect their moods and cognitive clarity, and benefits affect their health, which in turn impact their effectiveness in teaching. (Ever been taught by a stressed-out teacher?)

Higher salaries also attract more qualified job applicants. Further, a higher salary helps ease the pain of buying those extra supplies that make teaching easier and more fun for both students and teachers.

Linda Nelson

Chatsworth

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