To the Editor:

I graduated with high honors from a respected university, with a master's degree in 1979. Since then I've taught in several community colleges, but last year I decided to work for the New York City Board of Education teaching elementary school. I took and passed the common branch exam and (like all teachers new to New York schools) was given five years to complete a master's degree.

I wasn't worried - I already had my M.A. But this was not the reality. My degree is in philosophy (I also have a Bachelor of Arts in English, a B.A. in philosophy and 21 hours in professional education). Besides, last year I was told by several reliable sources at the board that my master's was ''perfectly acceptable.'' However, a friend (who knows the tricks of the trade) suggested I visit the board to be safe.

So with Kierkegaardian faith, I went off to the board yesterday. It turns out that a master's in philosophy is useless. (I knew I should've listened to my mother.) But, I argued politely, philosophy is the foundation of our civilization. (They were sorry.) Philosophy makes one aware of moral dilemmas, ethical considerations, I continued. (They looked bored.) What about logic? I asked logically. (They didn't see the reasoning here.) But Socrates' Socratic method can be instrumental to effective teaching methodology. (They had to go to lunch.) You see, philosophy is not a subject usually taught in our schools. (Why fill our students' heads with useless stuff?) So an M.A. in almost anything else would be fine. It seems philosophy, which means ''love of wisdom,'' has nothing to do with teaching.

This teacher learned something. My learned professors had lied. They said philosophy would be useful in all walks of life. They said it was true there was no demand for philosophers; but one could always teach. Especially with the severe shortage of qualified teachers we hear so much about.