Sir: Gillian Shephard's article ("Early teacher retirement is not a right", 9 January) is strong on finance and, unusually, short on standards and values.

No one of my generation went into teaching for the money. My take-home pay in 1974 was pounds 90 a month. Teachers like teaching or they wouldn't be there, so why are they getting out?

Perhaps we are tired of attempting to instil the values of honesty, application and co-operation when these have long been abandoned by society; tired of explaining to young minds that a pounds 1m severance payment to the head of a privatised utility is the fair and just operation of market forces. But that alone would not make us desert our calling.

We would go on coping with the endless U-turns, long hours, attempts to achieve the impossible, had we not been told so loudly and often by responsible politicians what a rotten lot we are. We can only do miracles if we feel valued.

She's a bright girl, that Gillian Shephard. Why doesn't she ask us why we want to go instead of just banging up the exits? Simple really ... she knows the answers would be all wrong.

P COURT-HAMPTON

(Retired headteacher)

Curridge, Berkshire