Shame on The Japan Times for implicitly joining in with the wholly unjustified criticism of teachers who have retired early to avoid cuts to their retirement allowance. The use of the word "dodge" in the Jan. 23 article titled "Teachers retire to dodge benefit cut" implies that teachers are doing something dishonest or immoral.
In fact, it is the teachers who have been wronged. Teaching school in any country, and especially in Japan, involves a life of commitment to long working hours with few holidays and a stressful environment. No one enters the teaching profession to make money; it is relatively poorly paid. Why, then, after perhaps 40 years of selfless work are teachers subjected to such ingratitude and suddenly faced with such a swingeing financial penalty?
The tenor of criticism seems to run along the lines of "they are being selfish and not doing their duty." This opinion is being expressed without any opposition on many television programs. Usually the views are being offered by commentators who are grossly overpaid and make very little contribution to society. Perhaps they should consider their own moral worth.
Teachers are an easy target, and it is a pity that The Japan Times does not speak out against ill-informed and unfair judgment
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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