Education Begins at Home, With Parents

Re “Teacher Shortage Expected to Worsen, Especially in California,” Aug. 15: I am currently a new teacher (just over a year of experience) in the Los Angeles Unified School District. I find my job to be frustrating and challenging. The hardest part is dealing with the kids. I work in an urban school environment and resent the idea that if we change the teachers and try to offer more and more incentives to them they will stay or enjoy their jobs more.

Many teachers like myself start teaching because they want to make a change, not because they are seeking wealth. What really needs to be changed are the students. There has to be something done to improve student discipline and parent involvement. Many of the parents do not reward reading at home, much less actually read to their children. It is not only the school’s responsibility to educate the children. We need outside support in the form of parents. If the kids had some proper home training, this job would be a wonderfully rewarding experience.

Dave Wiseman

Los Angeles