Teachers Worth More Than Time in Class

Re “A Recalculation of the Worth of Teachers,” March 16:

I find it insulting the way many people use the length of the school year to justify teachers’ low salaries. If teachers were unskilled baby-sitters who passively sat in classrooms and watched students pass the time, perhaps it would be reasonable to pay them based on the number of hours worked. In reality, however, teachers are highly educated and are expected to offer challenging curriculum and instruction, maintain order, motivate and guide students, and tailor daily activities to meet individual needs in diverse and overcrowded classrooms. Contrary to popular belief, not just anyone can walk into a classroom and do these things effectively. Teachers are worth more than just the sum of the hours they spend working (which, incidentally, is a larger number of hours than many people suspect).

Sheila Peck

Huntington Beach