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Today's Letters: Don't be so hard on the teachers

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 3, 2007

School Board made right move March 29 letter

My first thought was, what a slap in the face to the teachers at Hudson Elementary, then it made me nauseous to think that someone could write something so atrocious and my final thought was of anger. I have been a volunteer and a substitute teacher in Pasco County for nine years. For this person to write that the teachers are too lazy, tells me that he has not researched enough information about the teachers at Hudson Elementary to make such a preposterous accusation.

The teachers are not against learning or implementing the new method. Until you have walked in the so-called lazy teachers' shoes, you should think about your choice of words. I have the honor of knowing and working with many dedicated and hard-working teachers at Hudson Elementary. I commend them all for their time and efforts spent during school hours and after school hours. Just because some people stand up for what they feel is right (like voting no for the STAR program), doesn't mean they should be condemned.

The writer also states that Hudson is among the poorest-performing schools. Why didn't you clarify that it is because of a small portion of students who did not make adequate progress. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Teachers can teach, but if a student doesn't want to learn or the parents' support isn't present, it becomes a frustrating situation for all concerned. No wonder there is a teacher shortage.

Tina Jones, Hudson

Try walking in a teacher's shoes 

School Board made right move March 29 letter

I take extreme umbrage to the comment that teachers are lazy. He seems to think that the Learning Focused Strategies system is something new in educational research. Well, wake up and smell the coffee! LFS is just a repackaging of CRISS Strategies and Bloom's Taxonomy, tools that teachers have been using for years in teaching students "to think logically and provide a basis for teaching the rest of the curriculum." Spending $4.5-million to recycle something that we are already doing is an extreme waste of financial resources that could have been much better spent on things like desks for the classrooms or teacher training that appropriately addresses the subjects that we teach. But there was no one asking what training we thought we needed to improve the condition of our students' well-being!

If anyone believes teachers are lazy, then I challenge them to spend a week in our shoes and teach the classes that we teach, write the lesson plans, grade the papers that often take until midnight to finish. And then finally spend the extra hours before and after school trying to prepare for the day or to help students that are behind to get caught up! Then tell me if you think teachers are lazy or not!

No, teachers aren't lazy! We may be stressed out, worn out, exasperated and frustrated because of the lack of public recognition or the misconception of the public's view. But we are definitely not lazy.

Kenneth Blankenship, Land O'Lakes

Courage, vision count on April 10 

Vote for people with vision for city March 30 letter

The homeowner who wrote in support of the creation of a CDD for Main Street Landings is to be commended for her interest in the city. She is also to be commended for her advocacy of voting for people with a vision for our fine city that is not clouded by historical differences of opinion and personal dislikes. I intend to do exactly that.

The author of that earlier letter is right to remind us that a CDD for Main Street Landings remains a possibility. A CDD is most certainly one option for the site and the author is smart to inform us of this fact - no matter who is elected in April. So thanks for that timely insight.

Although this missive has been perhaps a bit profuse in thanking the letter writer, it is well intended. It would be remiss, however, if thanks were not also extended to the City Council for having the vision and foresight to reject the redevelopment plan proposed last summer. Fortunately, there were persons of vision and courage on the City Council who took a constructive stand on this matter, despite some bullying from the press and efforts on the part of some to politicize and personalize the issue.

Although the press and many civic leaders seemed convinced that the proposal brought to the council last summer was a panacea, it was not. It must also be reiterated that the developers walked away from the negotiating table, not the City Council. The developers closed up shop. The kudos to those who opposed the CDD takes nothing away from those who supported it. Theirs was a tough position to take as well. There were no easy decisions on this matter and there will be no easy ones in the future - not if its full seriousness is considered.

Well-meaning folks on both sides of the issue made thoughtful decisions and had the good of the city at heart. It is just that those who voted against the CDD had (and still have) powerful and influential opponents. Still, they made the right choice despite receiving considerable political and personal pressure to do otherwise. For this they are to be commended as the visionaries that they are. They are also to be commended for their courage.

I thank the letter writer for encouraging us to vote for persons of vision. Courage might also be added as an attribute to look for in members of the City Council. So, let me encourage voters to add courage to vision when deciding on candidates to support on April 10 in New Port Richey. That is the sort of person for whom I'll be voting.

Dell deChant, New Port Richey

The writer is the husband of council member Marilynn deChant.

[Last modified April 2, 2007, 23:14:59]