Teacher Pay, Training

* Should teachers be compensated commensurately with other professionals (Commentary, Nov. 16)? Doctors, lawyers and accountants often spend 3,000 hours per year working, and I know of no professional who spends less than 2,000 hours per year. Teachers, however, teach an average of five hours per day for about 165 days per year. Even if one adds 50% for preparation time and administrative duties, teachers remain part-timers compared to other professionals.

JON C. BRISSMAN

San Bernardino

* Bravo, Brian Crosby, for proposing $100,000 salaries for good teachers. I’m all for that, as long as education requirements are also increased. Many nations require a master’s degree in the subject area of teaching. All the tough new student-achievement standards in the world will not solve our problems without exquisitely trained teachers.

STEVEN B. OPPENHEIMER

Northridge

* The Legislature approved a one-time $10,000 bonus for all California teachers who achieve national certification (Nov. 13). Fifty-nine California teachers have been nationally certified. Now, when those teachers say, “Show me the money,” the state says wait until next spring or later.

The public says it wants high-quality teachers. Many dedicated teachers are spending $2,000 and hundreds of hours to raise the level of student achievement in their classrooms and to demonstrate they have achieved the high and rigorous standards demanded by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards--knowing there is no guarantee they will pass. When they do pass, the state says wait until next year for your money. I want to know if the state is going to pay interest on the money I earned and they withheld from me?ADRIENNE MACK

National Certified Teacher

Birmingham High, Van Nuys

* I read with dismay about Clifford Hooe’s experience as a substitute teacher in Muir Middle School (Voices, Nov. 14). The principal decries the shortage of teachers in California. I am a typical example of why the shortage exists.

I had current certifications in Oregon and Washington and 20 years of experience, with excellent recommendations, when I arrived in L.A. two years ago. It took five months to receive an emergency credential. They wanted course descriptions for my master’s degree from Boston University and I need to take other courses to qualify. Once I am certified, I must take courses continually for five years in order to accrue enough points to become recertified. I would like to see those on their pedestals in teacher standards work all day in one of the most difficult jobs in the nation, and go off to school for three or four hours in the evening.

SUSAN SOTO-CAMPOS

Los Angeles