I have been a proud resident of the Levittown community my entire life. I have chosen to remain in Levittown and raise my children in this community. Both my wife, and myself, volunteer our time to several organizations. My wife also happens to teach in the district.

As many people know, the teachers in our district have been working without a contract. I cannot believe the comments that I have heard from both friends and total strangers regarding this matter. Members of this community, with children in our schools, have had the audacity to comment and question how hard teachers may or may not work, question their integrity and wonder what the teachers could be complaining about since they only work 180 days a year. My wife worked very hard, raising three children, spending thousands of hours, as well as dollars, to get her education. Not only did she attain a bachelors degree, but also a masters degree as a masters degree is required by New York State. I cannot understand how anyone who does not have a clue as to the amount of time and energy a teacher puts into his or her work can voice any opinion. I invite anyone to come spend a week in my house and experience what I do each and every day.

I walk into my house daily to be greeted by the words, "Guess what happened in school today." (This is my wife, not my children). The patience and tolerance of my wife always amazes me when I can think of many other speedier, but less professional ways to handle some problems. After spending all day long teaching children, my wife then spends the next several hours assisting our children with their work. Every night my wife positions herself on the couch where I know I can find her until 11 or 12 o'clock at night surrounded by books and papers. There is not a night or weekend that goes by that I don't find her either grading or planning. When I hear "Way to go" or "Great Job" I just pretend she's talking to me. She goes into work early and stays late, whether it is to meet with parents, catch up on paperwork, Xerox or decorate and rearrange her room. She makes phone calls to parents at night who can not be reached during the day. She is the children's social worker, psychologist, nurse, friend, as well as teacher. She cares about them and brings their problems home with her. On our last vacation, I carried the extra bags of work my wife had to bring with her. When it is time for report cards, I just accept the fact that I will not be having a normal conversation with my wife for over a week. In any other union job, this would be considered "overtime!"

I cannot tell you the countless times I have been asked to please pick up a treat or reward as I am running out to the store because the students "earned them," or a project is being done and materials are needed. My children have even learned to ask, "Is that for us or Mom's class?" These items are our expense.

Last year my father in-law was very ill. The doctors informed the family that he only had a few days to live, and they were not sure how long it would be. As my wife sat at her father's bedside, she spent hours writing detailed plans to ensure that the children in her class would be properly taken care of. I, on the other hand, just called in and said I wouldn't be in for the week.

Neither my wife nor I are complaining. We just accept our lifestyle as part of the job. I am respectfully suggesting that people should engage their mind before their mouth, and not speak of something of which they have no knowledge. Aside from what I witness firsthand at home, I have to say that I think the teachers in this district are doing a great job. My children enjoy going to school, and their teachers have had a positive influence on their lives. We send our children to school for six and a half hours a day and entrust them into the hands of our teacher, yet people have the nerve to comment on whether the job they are doing deserves a fair acknowledgement.

A friend brought this point to my attention. A private day care provider is not required to have an educational background, does not have a curriculum to follow, tests to grade, lessons to plan, but receives $7 an hour to care for the children. Using the math skills a teacher once taught you, figure what it would cost if we paid our teachers $7 an hour to educate each of the 25 students in their classroom for the six hours a day, 180 days a year that they only have to work! Now imagine if they got paid overtime! I think we're getting a bargain.

Kenny Nizinski