Parents simply want schools that are safe
Regarding Melody Miller's Counterpoint, "Whites still try to deny effects of racism" ( July 21):
We all know that race matters. What we don't know is how to go back and erase the sins of the past.
The majority of the parents I know — black, white, Asian, and Hispanic — are in agreement. All we want is to be able to send our children to school in a safe environment that is conducive to learning. When you have a classroom where children are involved in fighting, drug use, and abhorrent disrespect for the teacher (i.e., cursing, chair throwing, etc...), nobody wins. The responsible children must be removed from the classroom, regardless of race, so that the majority of students can take advantage of the education that our tax dollars provide.
It's getting to the point that many parents are simply giving up on our schools.
Everyone knows the schools aren't able to solve the many social problems that exist in today's society, but as long as they try, education will continue to fail.
Lydia K. Fritz
Greensboro
Comments (4)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
The letter states many great truths. I don't think the request is unreasonable. Until the school board accepts these realities, nothing will be done and the problems will escalate.
Posted on August 1, 2006 8:34 AM
I might not go so far as to say that education is "failing" because I feel it is still possible to obtain an excellent education within the framework of the current system, but I think the lte writer has made some very valid points highlighting a few of it's basic problems.
From a personal perspective, the vast majority of the teachers with whom I am acquainted are capable of doing an excellent job if given not only the freedom to insert more of their own capabilities into the day to day instruction of their students, but the reasonable support of administrators in maintaining a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning without having to contend with the constant "damage control" of unruly students.
I agree with Ms. Fritz, public school classrooms should be for teaching our children in the best manner possible, and that goal should not be set aside for the chronically bad behaviors of the few.
Deal with them seperately, but don't let them interfere with the greater purpose.
Posted on August 1, 2006 9:26 AM
Lydia,
Agreed. One set of rules for everybody. If someone think that is racism, then they don't know racism.
Posted on August 1, 2006 11:13 AM
What a very non-PC LTE. We should all be ashamed. Imagine implementing discipline to children who are unruly!!
We need to keep track of the percentage of white, black, Hispanic and token other children in each classroom population. If a given class is black, say 30%, then no more than 30% (preferably less) of the total suspensions can be given to black children!!
If the 30% is exceeded, the teacher and principle need discipline and mandatory diversity training. We also need to call Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Skip Alston, Deena Hayes, and the ACLU to rectify the situation.
Posted on August 1, 2006 10:33 PM