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Not Feeling Their Pain

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2007

Regarding 'School Day Squeeze' (front page, Oct. 18):

As an elementary school teacher, I find it somewhat comical to read about high school teachers' complaints concerning working a full day. I have dealt with 30-minute lunches and possibly one 30-minute 'break' period during the day since I began teaching. Kindergarten teachers are lucky to get a lunch period with the number of aides that have been taken away over the years. Elementary school teachers are lucky to make it to the bathroom a couple times a day.

As a teacher, you have no business being in the classroom if you can't give the same level of instruction from beginning to end of the day. Complaints being lodged deal with students not having enough working time as they did during the longer class periods. Some teachers complain because they can't grade papers during what should be instructional time.

Yes, grading an honors English paper consumes time, and perhaps securing help for teachers in higher level classes for this purpose is worth exploring. Still, a teacher should be teaching during the full class period. I've done it for the extent of my career as an elementary school educator, and it is time for all educators to step it up.

ROSE MANDT

Valrico

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