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Letters to the EditorsWhy a dearth of teachers? They can't discipline kids
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 5, 2000 Re: Board tests new ideas to recruit teachers, Sept. 20 story. Not too many people want to teach anymore because the students have the upper hand. Who wants to put his or her life in danger when there is not support from administration or parents? Until teachers are allowed to teach and use proper discipline, no learning can take place. The article quotes School Board Chairman Max Gessner as saying, "Nothing is more important to highest student achievement than getting qualified teachers." The school district revamped its human resources department and doubled its recruiting trips. All the recruiting and revamping is only a short-term fix. It is clear to us who have raised kids and seen the schools when teachers had support from administration to discipline the students. My husband is a retired teacher. He had discipline in his classroom, but the students learned. He taught them how to excel because they learned. Only in the past few years, since he has been a substitute in the Pinellas County schools a few times, did he ever say, "It is impossible to teach when the kids have the upper hand." Until they fix that problem, there will be a shortage of teachers. It's time we do something about this, don't you think?
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
