There’s no sense of entitlement here. None at all. You should be ashamed of yourself for thinking that there is.
List was highlighted by the Michigan Education Association as one of the critics of Senate Bill 1040, which would require public school employees to contribute at least 5 percent of their compensation to their retirement plan.
The MEA reported on its website: “Saginaw Township teacher Terry (sic) List had hoped to retire in the next three years when she was 47 years old. That wouldn’t be possible under SB 1040. List would have to work another 16 years to be eligible for health benefits.”
“By the time I’m 60, I would have put in 43 years of service, earning a salary at the top of the pay scale. How does that save the district money? You could hire two people for the cost of one and encourage young people to join the profession. Right now, I would not recommend to my pupils to become a teacher in Michigan.”
List didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.
Given current life expectancies, List is expecting to retire and draw a pension for about 40 years, which would be well over half the time she would be paid by the taxpayers. If she’s so concerned about the district paying her too much to keep working, she could quit now. Or turn down all those salary increases. Guess that’s not an option.
Meanwhile, more Americans working in the productive private sector increasingly expect to retire around age 80.
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