Although I was touched by the generous gift from Volvo to the teachers at Hohokam Elementary, I also hoped people would see it in another way. The fact that teachers are expected to pay so much out of their own pockets each year should be seen as a glaring need for an increase in their salaries.

The legislature should be embarrassed by this. I am a retired teacher and it was a reality every single year of my career that teachers routinely paid out of pocket for many basic as well as special supplies.

To see that this is still the norm is a sign that legislatures have made no progress at all in supporting teachers with adequate pay. Teachers do an important service and are devoted to their students.

They deserve more than to be expected to depend on the kindness of strangers in order to do the best for their students.

Ashley Sherinian
SCOTTSDALE