‘Teachers Take Extra Duties’

The story “Some Teachers Take Extra Duties to Boost Salaries” (Metro, Jan. 1) overlooked and distorted some very crucial points. First and foremost, the article completely omitted any mention as to how a teacher earns a salary increase within the system. The Los Angeles Unified School District utilizes a step-column structure. A teacher advances a step for each year’s experience. Moving across columns requires 14 acceptable credits from college courses or in-service training courses. If a teacher takes two three-unit courses a semester, he can advance a column every two years or so. Of course, this means taking two night classes a week, and this might get in the way of those part-time job opportunities, not to mention time away from family and leisure time.

This structure works up to a bachelor’s degree plus 98 units. Besides taking courses, a teacher might aim for a master’s degree. For this the district pays the grand sum of $10 a month; doctoral degrees earn $40 a month extra.

The article also implies that summer school teaching is there for the taking. In actuality the district has a “priority” system based on seniority. Newer teachers have much less of a chance landing a summer school assignment than do veterans, but seniority isn’t a guarantee. If a teacher didn’t teach summer school last year, he’s “Priority 1”; if he did, he’s “Priority 2.” Priority 2 teachers have little chance of getting summer school. Complicating the matter is that some fields of study may have more teachers applying than other fields. Principals can pick and choose.

Mentor teachers, coordinators and “hard-to-staff” bonuses affect a minority of teachers. Most teachers are on the traditional calendar, not the year-round calendar, and are not paid during the summer months.

The impression given by this article of abounding opportunities for teachers is misleading. The base salary is not for part-time work.

ABRAHAM HOFFMAN

Woodland Hills