Letter: Wrong view of teachers

LETTER: In reply to the letter headed "Spotlight may fall on teachers" I would like to respond in the strongest terms. As a newly qualified teacher I found the letter to be both factually incorrect and insulting.

Readers should be aware that the figure of "around £600 per week" for a newly qualified teacher is vastly incorrect. The actual figure is closer to £400 which I accept, in these difficult times, is a reasonable amount.

The point of the letter I find most objectionable is the assumption that the 12 weeks I am out of school is 12 weeks holiday.

I can assure G Thomas that the great majority of this time is spent working, either marking pupils' work or preparing for future lessons. In addition, my "working" day spent in school will nearly always begin at 7.30am and I am often marking books until late into the evening.

I am sure that G Thomas will have heard this claim before, and by the tone and content of the letter dismisses it.

I also object to being compared to those MPs who have been discredited by inappropriate expenses claims.

To compare the time allocated to me to work away from school and an MP who claims for his moat to be cleaned and wisteria to be trimmed, is nothing less than a fanciful leap.

I write this letter as a newly qualified teacher who enjoys the profession and do not wish to be perceived as "poor me", but I do get frustrated at disparaging comments about teaching from people who obviously do not have first hand knowledge.

If G Thomas's opinions are truly represented by the letter I am surprised he or she doesn't become a teacher him/herself.

K Evans

Shrewsbury