Teachers’ Challenges

I agree with Carol Jago for the most part (“A Model Teacher Requires Daily Miracles,” Commentary. Feb. 2). However, in the accountability area there has been a very important factor left out. The parent(s) or caregiver(s) must also be involved in the child’s education process.

How about more rules as to what the parents must do if their child does things that prevent the other students from learning or the teacher from teaching? Right now, all there is for parent accountability are a few unenforceable (gutless) rules that say a parent must come in for conferences, or attend class with their child. Not much is there to change a child’s disruptive behavior. That is probably what most teachers would say is their biggest problem--disruptive children.

Don’t put it all on teachers. Evaluate them no more than you’d like to be evaluated. Let teachers teach.

WIL SCARROW

Bellflower

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Re “Degrees of Success,” Jan. 28:

As a veteran teacher, I was disheartened to find that the Department of Education does not include “teacher” as an occupation in need of more than four years of college; while (among others) these occupations require it: lawyer, doctor, scientist, university professor, economist, psychologist, priest or rabbi, public policy analyst and management consultant.

I submit that a teacher’s responsibility includes aspects of all the aforementioned jobs, and is therefore worthy of the requirement of a graduate degree in education focused on the theory and practice of the profession through action research, as well as the complexities and realities of the job. With all the concern for excellence surrounding American education, I would hope that the DOE would acknowledge this.

JOHN LOPEZ JR.

South Pasadena