Improving Teaching

Let me express my appreciation on behalf of the 1.7-million-member National Education Assn. for the excellent editorials (Sept. 3), “Thanks, Teach,” and (Sept. 9), “Dealing With a Staggering Loss”.

The editorial on teaching is particularly uplifting as it recognizes the real frustrations of teaching--being undervalued and unappreciated--while making positive suggestions to elevate the profession to the heights it richly deserves.

Your comment that improving teachers and teaching will require leadership from teachers themselves--as well as from local, state and national governments--is well taken. We at NEA are aware of the importance of leadership in this crucial area.

NEA members want rigorous standards for themselves and are willing to go the extra mile--whatever it takes--to make teaching a profession to be admired and respected by all. Teachers want to reach out and share their responsibilities with others: with parents, community leaders, business, legislatures, colleges and universities.

Teachers are very idealistic people--the most idealistic people I know. They see teaching as a labor of love. They want to make it a lifelong career.

Despite all the adversities, most teachers stay in teaching because they take great satisfaction in working with students and watching their progress. In short, teachers like to teach.

This love of teaching is related to your editorial on school dropouts. There is no greater loss for a teacher than to lose a student--a student who drops out of school.

The high dropout rate in California and in other states across the nation is alarming. The Times’ comment that California cannot afford to deal with this staggering loss in human resources hits the mark.

As educators, we cannot hear the cry of our children without being moved to action. That’s why NEA has setup a project (Operation Rescue) aimed at rescuing would-be dropouts. This $1.7-million war chest against scholastic failure is being financed by putting aside one dues dollar for each of NEA’s 1.7 million members.

You can be assured that NEA members will continue this pursuit--to improve the profession and the quality of education for children--for excellence in our schools. We are heartened by your editorials that aptly help show us the way.

MARY HATWOOD FUTRELL

Washington

Futrell is president of the National Education Assn.