New math, fewer teachers. (Letters).

New math, fewer teachers. (Letters). I READ WITH INTEREST THE STORY REGARDING Florida's need for20,000 teachers (Update, April 2003, page 8). I was especiallyinterested in Gov. Jeb Bush's mathematics regarding the cost ofthese teachers. Obviously, if you extend any program indefinitely in��def��i��nite?adj.Not definite, especially:a. Unclear; vague.b. Lacking precise limits: an indefinite leave of absence.c. , youcould reach $28 billion. The reality is that if the state paid these20,000 teachers $100,000 per year, the cost would be only $2.8 billionfor the first year. It would take 10 years to reach Jeb's $28 billion figure.Based on some knowledge of salaries in Florida Florida, state, United StatesFlorida(flôr`ĭdə, flŏr`–), state in the extreme SE United States. A long, low peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean (E) and the Gulf of Mexico (W), Florida is bordered by Georgia and , $100,000 per year mightbe a tad high for a teacher. There must be something defective defectiveadj. not being capable of fulfilling its function, ranging from a deed of land to a piece of equipment. (See: defect, defective title) in the math gene in the Bushfamily. Jeb has a propensity to make the cost of education soundexceedingly ex��ceed��ing��ly?adv.To an advanced or unusual degree; extremely.exceedinglyAdverbvery; extremelyAdv. 1. expensive while his brother [President George George,river, c.345 mi (560 km) long, rising in a lake on the Quebec-Labrador boundary, E Canada. It flows N through Indian Lake (125 sq mi/324 sq km) to Ungava Bay (an arm of Hudson Strait). Bush] tends tomake the cost of war in Iraq virtually free. If Jeb could have talked his brother into putting the money for warinto education, those 20,000 teachers would be mere pocket change. --David Paulson Executive Director School Safety Research Institute Deephaven, Minn.