Letters to the Editor
Published March 1, 2010
Star-Bulletin
Teachers do a lot that goes unsung
Regarding cutting nonteachers from the payroll ("Cut nonteachers from the payroll," Star-Bulletin, Letters, Feb. 22) I will not comment on the
teacher-to- administrator ratio, because I do not have those figures. However, regarding the suggestion that teachers do not need their
preparation days but can do the necessary work at home in the evenings and at weekends, I have to comment.
Those preparation days and hours after class are used not only to prepare for classes but to have staff meetings to discuss curriculum and
policy, to meet with parents of special needs students, to learn how to teach better through taking courses, to prepare reports, and so on.
Being a good teacher involves a huge lot more than just standing in front of a class.
In any case, preparation already takes place during evenings and on weekends. Last Saturday my wife spent the entire day cutting out
cardboard butterflies, pasting tissue paper on them, and preparing for this week's classes in which, using insects as a vehicle, she is
teaching special-needs students to understand color, count, verbalize, enhance motor control. As I write this, at 8.30 at night, my wife is
again creating butterflies, again to be used as a fun vehicle to reinforce the information her students are learning about color, to
provide practice in fine motor control, and so on.
So please don't harp on about the preparation days. And please do not compare teachers to other professions -- except in terms of their
dedication. My wife makes about $40,000 a year; would a doctor work for that? A dentist? A lawyer? With teachers, you get unconscionable value
for money.
Robert Cowie
Kaneohe
Education relies on 3 strong legs
Education of our keiki depends on strong support by the three legs of the platform that enables them to succeed. Without support from all
three, failure is almost guaranteed.
The first leg is parental support. Providing food, clothing and shelter meets the physical needs, but for educational success parents must
provide a mental structure for learning. This includes reading to young children on a daily basis and encouraging them to explore new ideas and
concepts. For the teens and preteens, this includes setting aside areas and times for focused study and discussing what they are studying.
The second leg is school support. Every teacher has strengths and weaknesses and the school must encourage teachers to constantly upgrade
teaching skills. Administrators must provide materials and classrooms that are comfortable and conducive to learning. Above all,
administrators must build teamwork within the school so that "together we can" becomes the norm.
The third leg is community support. Successful communities put their children first, with parents active in the school and volunteers in
every classroom. Financial support is necessary but not sufficient to build a great school. The community that provides activities for its
young people and makes sure that truants and "problem children" are quickly counseled, will reap the reward of a great school that enables
every student to succeed.
Walt Weiss
Kahuku
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