To the Editor:

(Phil) Christe's ad regarding Bedford Central School District teacher salaries has certainly led to a barrage of letters. But, as they say, "Figures lie... and liars figure." Neither side has given us the full story.

In his May 26 letter to the editor, (Bedford Central School Board president) Paul Alcorn says that "most of our teachers cannot afford to live in the communities in which they teach." To paraphrase our Fearless Leader, it all depends on what you mean by 11 communities." If you mean the school district, then certainly a lot of our teachers can - and do - live' here. If by "communities" you mean the more posh areas of Pound Ridge or Bedford, then he may well be right. But a lot of lawyers, doctors or other professionals can't afford to live there either.

Or consider Martin Kremer's May 26 letter to the editor, in which he states that teachers' salaries "should pay better than plumbing or the law."

It depends on what he means by "pay better." To compare apples with apples rather than with oranges, compare salaried teachers with other salaried professionals. Dividing $100,000 by 180 school days, and then by roughly six hours per day, gives about $90 per hour. Someone working 40 hours a week for 48 weeks would have to earn a $173,000 salary to come out even. Salaried professionals such as doctors don't generally even come close. Not to mention plumbers.

But Mr. Christe didn't give the full story either. What he failed to mention is benefits. What is tenure worth? In terms of peace of mind, no worries about being fired, no fear of someone trying to worm his way into your job, no need for a slush fund to tide you over in case your company goes out of business. Tenure may well be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Mr. Christe didn't mention the training needed. In law or medicine, for example, you need to excel in college, then do four more years of professional school, followed by perhaps three or more years of internship and residency before you can get a job. In teaching, four years of just average college grades is all you need to start. The teacher starts work a number of years sooner, has much smaller school loans and can thus retire that much sooner.

Oh yes, Mr. Christe forgot retirement benefits. Most teachers retire with a pension (plus Social Security and tax benefits) high enough that it doesn't pay to keep working. Example:

Five teacher retirements were announced at the March 22nd school board meeting. These teachers served an average of 34 years "in the profession," averaging 32 years at Bedford Central. Starting to teach at the age of 22 or so, right after college, means that the average retirement age could be as early as 56. How many other salaried professionals do you know who can count on staying 32 years in the same job, and retire around age 55 with a sizable pension to which they contribute little or nothing?

Mr. Christe also didn't mention section 14 of the teachers' contract, which provides two years of sick leave (at full pay) after five years of employment. How much is that worth?

And what is peace of mind worth? In law, medicine or engineering, a "small omission" can mean a lost legal case, a dead patient or a collapsed building. Teachers certainly do not have that same high pressure, where a small misstep can mean the end of a career.

The point is that a teacher's salary is only a part of the story. All these other perks (and more: long vacations, snow days, etc.) must also be figured into overall teacher compensation.

Peter Stark

Mount Kisco

Record Review 06-02-2000