Market Economy Will Alleviate Pension Woes

Market Economy Will Alleviate Pension Woes

The author of the article "The Baby Boomers' Vanishing Pensions," June 5, would have us believe that the economy will remain static in the face of a 40 percent drop in the number of workers per retiree.

Actually, the resulting labor shortage will increase the price of labor, causing workers to voluntarily delay retirement and employers to invest in productivity-enhancing equipment. The result: The number of workers per retiree will not drop as precipitously as a static economic model would predict and remaining workers will be able to produce enough to fund pensions for retirees.

This does not mean pension law and regulations do not need reform, but alarmist rhetoric is not the place to start.

Eric Klieber Cleveland Heights,Ohio

A teacher's work is never done

As a former history teacher, I would like to offer my thoughts about the opinion-page article "History: Our Worst-Taught Subject," May 12. History textbooks are not designed to be exciting novels. They provide facts and data.

It is the teacher's responsibility to determine what is fact and from these facts present interesting ideas to use for in-depth study. Library reference work and class projects enhance history and make it come alive.

Maybe our textbooks do need an overhaul, but good teachers can overcome these obstacles with live, challenging, and, yes, even fun projects.

It is my experience that teachers today are intelligent, well-trained, and, on the whole, deeply committed to the students and their work. We hear much in the news about how schools are failing to provide adequate learning for students. Unruly students are often depriving an entire classroom of precious learning time.

The support of parents, their backup discipline at home, and enforcement of school principles are essential in the promotion of learning and improved study skills.

Lois Thorson Bellingham, Wash.

Lessons from 'snapshot'

In the opinion-page article "A Snapshot of Racial Prejudice," May 22, there is another lesson. We all must take the opportunity to stop and say, "If my new friend is not welcome, I'll go with him to find another phone. Thank you anyway."

The peace for which we all look will come when each of us is willing to forego the special treatment awarded to us by virtue of our race, gender, or status and draw our own line in the sand which we will not cross.

Victoria McCauley

Manhattan Beach, Calif.