Discuss teachers with facts

Regarding “Teachers in it for themselves” – June 16. Rob Leach states teachers don’t deserve a pay raise, and “the tax base has been demolished by the last six years of liberal attacks on wealth creation.”

First, the teachers walked out to protest the Legislature’s failure to obey the court decision to lower class size, not for a raise. I would argue teachers do deserve a raise for the excellent job most of them do under these types of criticisms.

As to tax base and wealth, total wealth in the United States has actually increased to about $50 trillion since 2008, and state and federal tax revenues have risen. Presently, 20 percent of Americans own 85 percent of the country’s wealth. Median income in Washington increased 30 percent from 2000 to 2012, tax rates decreased by 25 percent, and total revenues increased. Total non-higher education spending increased 80 percent, and salaries went up 30 percent in 12 years.

The share of taxes to schools and teachers has decreased while total tax base has increased. We can reasonably discuss student budgets and teacher salaries, but can we do it from facts and not blind ideology, please?

John McNamara

Pullman