Reassignment Stories Using Verb ‘Demote’

As the 1987-88 school year drew to a close in California, the Orange County Edition of the Los Angeles Times reminded us through its journalistic attitude that the state’s teachers are low men on the educational totem pole. It is difficult for me to believe that you continually chose this past week to headline articles with forms of the word “demote.”

I am referring to articles reporting the reassignment of two elementary school administrators in the Huntington Beach Elementary School District from that of administrator to classroom teacher. No wonder the Board of Trustees did not want to release the names of those administrators reclassified. With your attitude, their reassignment is viewed as a slap in the face.

Educators do not refer to job classifications as promotions or demotions. We regularly refer to the role we play as our assignment. Apparently, the words “reclassification” and “reassignment,” though accurate, are not sensational enough for your newspaper.

The majority of classroom teachers remain so because that is the role they choose to fill in the educational process. Perhaps it surprises you to learn that most teachers do not want to be school administrators.

This summer I will be teaching a class of severely handicapped children. My usual teaching assignment has been that of a regular classroom teacher. According to your logic, my reassignment could be interpreted as a “demotion.” Likewise, are kindergarten teachers less valued than those teaching high school-age students?

CECILE MAURICE

Seal Beach