I am deeply disturbed by the article stating that teachers should offer to take a pay cut.

I am currently a teacher in the Culver City School District.

Does Patricia Tam realize that our economy is terrible right now?

The cost of living in the Los Angeles area is very expensive.

To survive on a teacher’s salary, raise a family, and afford a home in a decent neighborhood is nearly impossible on a teacher’s salary.

My husband’s business has been in a decline for a year now, and we are barely surviving on my salary alone.

We are about to have our second child, which means no paycheck for me very soon while I am on leave. I know of other teachers who have spouses who are ill or out of work due to the financial situation right now.

Please don't ask me to cut my pay.

Instead, try to be supportive of the struggling people who are educating the youth of Culver City.

There are places to make cuts without cutting a teacher’s pay. A $60,000 salary is not a huge income for anyone with a family.

I know many teachers who are working second jobs to support their children. We knew that this was part of the profession when we choose it.

It is highly unlikely that we will ever earn $100,000 per year. But that $2000 extra per year, which works out to only $200 per month, could help a family pay for food, diapers and even gas at this point.

Please dig in someone else’s pocket.

We teach in Culver City because it is a great place to teach with a wonderful, supportive system of teachers, students, parents and administrators.

We may not always agree on everything, but we agree to discuss the issues.

Thanks for listening
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