Teacher responds to MAC column

By Guest

To the editor:

After reading the July 31 “Man About Canton” column, I am compelled to correct some slightly twisted insinuations and perceptions alleged by the author of that column. I happen to be what is considered a “master teacher” — a teacher with a master’s degree (which is required), have plenty of continuing education credits (mandated by law as well), and have decades of teaching experience at the college and high school level.

To insinuate that “many, if not most, teachers work less than 180 days a year,” is a tremendous insult to a group of dedicated, hardworking professionals in a field where historically there is a 50 percent attrition rate of teachers during the first five years of employment. In my experience, and what I see on a daily basis, whether at my place of work or here in Canton, are collections of people who work far more hours per average day (and nights and weekends) than the average person. It is difficult, it is tiring, and it is demanding — and one is always caught between the demands and needs of administrators, parents, students, and the expectations for academic excellence.

Teachers are becoming surrogate parents and social workers in more cases than the average person might think. And at the end of an academic year, many teachers either teach summer school, tutor, or work in a totally unrelated field for summer money.

On the subject of money and salaries, has MAC noticed the living expenses and cost of healthcare for people employed by municipalities in Massachusetts? Most towns split the cost of healthcare with the employee; my share for a relatively typical family plan is in the neighborhood of $10,000 per year, plus a $35 copay with every doctor visit. Teachers may appear well paid, but the fact is, Massachusetts is an expensive state in which to live and healthcare costs are a large part of it. Ultimately, in the end, you get what you pay for — if you want bargain rate workers, try it! Towns want to retain quality teachers and reward them as best they can for their children’s education.

Finally, to suggest that teachers “game” the system for financial gain represents a colossal insult to anyone in the field of education. It was suggested that teachers “learned early on how to get raises,” suggesting that education was not the priority — this statement is outrageous and demeaning, and MAC owes a sincere apology to the educational community.

Sincerely,

Robert LaFrance

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