Reading the paper this weekend did not help to cure whatever stomach virus made its way into my system. (Or, as Oldest put it when answering the phone, “Mommy can’t talk right now. She has the poops.”)
Here is my response:
There. My stomach feels much better.Dear Editor:
Your recent editorial attacking teachers won’t help the public understand what is at stake in our high schools next year. You spent too little space outlining our superintendent’s inadequate communication skills and too much time imploring teachers to play along.
Parents left out of redistricting discussions last year, teachers left out of scheduling decisions this year. Tell me: What is the best way to handle such a display of totalitarian leadership and the inevitable fall-out that occurs?
Instead of stressing the benefits of teachers and administrators working together, you continue to try pitting teacher against teacher, once again comparing high school teachers to elementary school teachers. Divide and conquer will not work in this situation. Most teachers are disappointed and frustrated with leadership that devalues all of us. Repeating Elia’s talking points, suggesting a raise most of us aren’t banking on, only makes your views less legitimate.
Teachers are not calling on co-workers to do the bare minimum. We aren’t threatening when we speak the truth about our ever-growing list of duties and responsibilities at odds with enough hours in the day. We aren’t whining when we point out the difficulties resulting from a lack of quality leadership that undermines our very existence and a community that misunderstands our roles. Your editorial, with half-truths and faulty comparisons, does nothing to improve the situation.
And you suggest we respond with silence. You believe we should play along. What kind of lesson would that teach our kids?
Our students are watching a superintendent who does her own thing no matter who is harmed. They are watching a school board give in to her every whim. They are also watching their teachers come together to speak out against bad policies that will negatively affect everyone. They are watching us speak up for our schools, our jobs, our passion. Students are watching us speak up for them.
Haven’t you heard? Those who can, teach. We can and we will fight for what’s right. Our students deserve nothing less.
Mr. Bill
2 years ago
After the massacre at Virginia Tech, isn’t it clear that we should be doing more to educate and motivate our kids ?
What does it take ?
If we don’t invest in our leaders of tomorrow then what will we have ?
As you drive down the beaches of Florida you see all the high rise condos, mostly unoccupied, that are paying full taxes while not draining law enforcement due to private security guards, not draining education because of their limited use. Where is all that money going ?
voxpopuli
2 years ago
oh oh is this a sideways argument for ridding all the big box owners of property taxes and dumping that tax liability on the general pop. Those with bigger properties are using more of the resources; they should PAY for this. NOT be jacked but pay for what they consume. This is not, of course, my original idea. I think that one of the plans before the senate is unconstitutional.
Awkward but interesting way to fit this into this post, mr. bill.
Oh, and I think if we reallllly think hard enough about it, we can figure out where that money goes. LOL !!!
Lee Nelson
2 years ago
Art projects?