I am writing in regard to the letter by Jamie Pelletier (Nov. 1), “Lacking in integrity,” having to do with the teachers protesting outside Auburn Middle School.

What a great opportunity to help teach children about fair wages for people who work hard to educate them.

Many teachers spend money from their own pockets to make sure that all children have the supplies they need to do well in school. They are not reimbursed for this, as most schools do not have the funds. They do this because they do have integrity.

Teachers are no different from the rest of us. They have a mortgage to pay, heating oil to buy, food to purchase to feed their families and so forth, and to do that, they need an income that makes that possible.

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and shake our heads at them as they pretty much beg for money but, really, don’t they deserve to be compensated for their work? I do not know of a teacher today that isn’t just as dedicated as teachers from yesteryear.

They do it for the love of children and education, not for the money, but they do deserve to get paid.

Heather Hawkes, Brunswick