'Cosy and privileged' teachers

Madam, – It was with great interest I read Breda O’Brien’s article (Opinion, October 24th)

Madam, – It was with great interest I read Breda O’Brien’s article (Opinion, October 24th). As a secondary teacher I was pleased to see an article that was so true to the reality of teachers’ experience - yet it disturbed me that this is so, and that it is accepted as part of our working conditions. Despite this, we are portrayed as pampered public servants. For the last half-term, I worked in a classroom with no heating, as the school can’t afford to turn it on until after mid-term. I might defrost during mid-term and shake off this lingering cold and cough I’ve struggled on with.

Never mind . . . I’m in the privileged position of having a pension to look forward to. But, it didn’t feel like a privilege when I was paying in a large chunk of my pretty average salary in the early years in the belief that it would ensure a good quality of life in my later years. Silly me, there I was thinking that the cautious, sensible people who saved their money for a rainy day would be rewarded at a later date if they only had patience.

How wrong and naive I was. These are not the people our Government encourages or rewards. No, it is the reckless spendthrifts and speculators who raced around in flash cars and helicopters and squandered what we so stupidly saved who are still calling the shots.

We now pay the piper while the fiddler dances his way merrily to Marbella to ride out this recession and sure our money will pay for the next binge when they come back. – Yours, etc,

HELEN LEAHY,

Willington Crescent,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.