Which Retired Teachers Are You Talking About?

Re “Retired Schoolteachers Enjoy Generous Benefits,” Dec. 4:

I retired from full-time teaching in 1996 with more than 30 years of teaching experience. My retirement check each month is considerably less than 70% of my highest year’s earnings. In fact, it is less than 50% of my final year’s salary. I supplement that by continuing to work, but as a substitute at substantially less per day than I made as a full-time teacher.

My “attractive” health benefits (paid for by the district from which I retired) do not include dental or vision coverage. That monthly payment for insurance stops the day I turn 65.

I wonder if elected officials would be happy with that kind of retirement package if they had put in 30-plus years on the job. In addition, if my husband dies before I do, will I get any Social Security benefits from all the years that he worked and earned Social Security credits?

Your generalizations about retired teachers are too sweeping. I know they don’t apply to me.

Maggie Bell

Dana Point

*

I believe the letter on schoolteachers’ benefits omitted a few pertinent facts.

Yes, recently retired teachers will receive a pension with 70% or more of their highest salaries after 30 years of teaching; if only all teachers with that much experience were receiving those benefits.

I and the majority of retired teachers left the profession when both salaries and percentage for retirement were considerably less. My retirement, after 25 years, is about half of my salary.

The writer also neglects to mention that teachers contribute 8% of every paycheck to their retirement, with the school district matching the amount. In addition, most teachers do not carry their medical benefits into retirement as the article implied.

Estelle Waslosky

Brea