Wilson Proposals for School Year, Teacher Pay

Regarding Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposal to lengthen the instructional school year but withhold pay for passing periods, Jan. 4:

During passing periods, while the students are “running around,” you will find teachers doing any and all of the following: Scrambling to prepare for the next class, including writing the lesson on the board for the class to see as they come in. Assisting students with questions; writing notes to parents; helping with stuck zippers, lost jackets, cut fingers and hurt feelings. Monitoring the students to see that they are safe, and in fact get to their next class, and are in their seats, ready to work. (Children have been known to linger with friends, around lockers and restrooms.) When possible, taking care of personal needs such as a visit to the restroom or getting a drink of water.

Except for supervising students running around, most of the above is done before and after school, at night and on the weekends, unpaid. By myself and almost all teachers, it is done willingly with pride and care, as part of the job. If you wish to nickel-and-dime teachers this way, then also reimburse them for time outside school and the hundreds and thousands of dollars they spend on instructional items not paid for by school districts.

MICHAEL ROTMAN, Teacher

Porter Middle School

Granada Hills

* I want to know who the administration source is who said, “Why should we pay them [teachers] when kids are running around the campus [during passing periods]?”

I want that person’s name because I never want to vote for or support that person in any way. The remark shows a level of ignorance about teaching, comparable to Marge Schott’s infamous remarks. Give me the name!

ELIZABETH OLLIFF, Teacher

McKinley Elementary School

Santa Monica

* I would agree with the unnamed administration official that we should not pay teachers for the five to seven minutes between classes, but only if we also don’t pay administration officials for “wasting time” by conceiving and making inane and idiotic proposals. But then we would have an administration of volunteers.

ERIC G. BEACHAM

Riverside

* This is the latest attempt by Wilson and Republicans to show support for public education. This particular quote was most interesting: “Wilson said he believes that his education initiatives may be his most important legacy as governor.” With the exception of last year, the governor’s “legacy” seemed to be to support building more prisons, not more classrooms.

It has been conservative Republicans, starting with their support of Prop. 13 in 1978 and their almost hysterical desire to cut taxes, who have taken California’s public schools from the best in the nation to virtually dead last. I’m sorry, governor, but after 20 years of trying to kill public education in California it’s going to take more than one year of fixing to leave a “legacy.”

THOMAS R. TEFFT, Chairman

Depts. of Social Science

and Fine Arts, Citrus College

Glendora