Although I do not have school-age children, I do have two grandsons who will be starting kindergarten next year, so I appreciated hearing teacher Richard Schaffer’s point of view (“Media must do better reporting on education,” Aug. 27, Astoria Times).
I am not nor have ever been a teacher, but I have known many teachers within my family and among my friends and Schaffer’s letter has the ring of truth to it.
I think teachers should have more input in what goes into school funding and the allocation of those funds. I cannot believe how the role and respect of teachers has diminished since I was a child. Teachers can and usually do have an enormous impact on a child’s life.
I believe teachers are forced to prepare children for tests rather than to teach and inspire. Despite this, I believe a high percentage still manage to educate and inspire the children in their classes.
Given the influence teachers have on the present and future lives of their students, I believe the profession should be appropriately recognized and reporters should seek to write more about the teacher’s point of view on how to best educate our children.
Marsha Toma
Whitestone
