School Salaries

I read Paul Feldman’s account of the first grade teacher’s fast (Metro, Nov. 22). A lot more of those 32,000 teachers should be on some sort of diet. Teaching is a tough job but it’s easier when, like first-grade teacher Annya Bell, you have only 26 kids and an assistant to help. Bell’s $42,000 salary for 10 months translates to an annual rate of over $50,000. Add to that a two-week paid vacation at Christmas and another week around Easter. Now they want others to ensure that students are safe at recess.

Teachers don’t make enough to watch youngsters play in a schoolyard? Give me, and all those who pay her salary, a break!

Let’s see some real improvement in standardized test scores and then talk about a $5,000 raise.

CHARLES CARLTON

La Verne