Proposition 98 Funds, Ratios

This letter is in reference to an article, “Hart, Teacher Groups at Odds Over Prop. 98 Funds,” by Douglas Shuit (Part I, Dec. 16) as well as your editorial “Teachers’ Grab Is Wrong” (Dec. 17).

Both misleadingly state a student/teacher ratio of 23 to 1 in California schools. Most taxpayers would find that ratio reasonable and would wonder what teachers are “crying about” when they claim their class sizes are too large to permit them to engage in quality instruction. Those of us who are regular classroom teachers know that most of us have numbers of students ranging from the low to high 30s--a far cry from 23!

The ratio of 23 to 1 most likely relates to the total number of teachers that school districts hire to meet the needs of a variety of programs. Some “teachers” instruct no students at all and are in quasi-administrative positions. Yet, they are included in determining the ratio of teachers to students. Others instruct small groups of students with special needs. They are, likewise, included in the overall count of teachers in a school district.

I believe that the intent of Proposition 98 is to provide a means to improve the quality of education in California schools. Teachers, who are involved in the heart of the process, know what it will take to accomplish this feat. Through the collective bargaining process we will have a voice in bringing that about.

Contrary to some beliefs, we are not solely interested in using funds generated by the passage of Proposition 98 for salary increases. We want the use of those funds to be mutually determined with respect to the needs of our individual school districts.

CECILE MAURICE

Seal Beach