A teacher's work is never done

Regarding the letter writer who believes teachers work 20 hours a week in the classroom ["Albany's first priority should be school costs," May 10], yesterday was not an atypical day in my life as a teacher. I arrived at school at 7:15 a.m. and began preparing for the day. At 7:50 my classes began and lasted until 2:43 p.m., when extra help began and ran until 3:45. I had just enough time to straighten up my classroom and get to the after-school program for at-risk students, where I worked with kids until 6. I do admit to using the rest room once and having about 20 minutes for lunch.

Then I went to a ceremony at my own child's school, where he received a music award (made possible by his teachers). Later I spent three hours grading my students' projects until 11:30. I'm not a math teacher, but this adds up to about 13 hours of work.

In 1995, I realized a longtime dream of becoming a teacher. I gave up my job making over $100,000 as a financial analyst and took more than a 50 percent pay cut. As now I approach 20 years of teaching (having earned two master's degrees at my expense along the way), I am just about earning what I did when I left the business world.

Should we go back to the early 1800s when female teachers were forced to leave upon learning they were pregnant, and all teachers were paid with a small allowance and room and board in their students' homes? Perhaps then, on my off hours, I could even mow your lawn and wash your car.

Michael Serif, East Meadow