Dear Editor:
Your editorial in the May 30 Herald Times — attributing school problems to “whining” teachers, parents who protect their “darlings” and student disrespect for education — is not only misinformed. It completely misses the point.
The TELL surveys indicate real problems in the education system in Meeker schools. Those problems require remediation. If they are dismissed as “whining,” as you would have it, and go unresolved, then yes, our children’s education will suffer.
One would hope the information in the surveys would invite further investigative reporting, not dismissive pablum. It is the responsibility of a free press to offer accurate, objective, in-depth analysis of critical issues.
Bob Dorsett, MD
Meeker
EDITOR’S NOTE: What I wrote and what you interpreted are quite different. Nor was what I wrote an editorial. An editorial is a newspaper’s “official” stance on an issue. I wrote an opinion column with the word “opinion” printed atop the page. Nowhere in my opinion column have I attributed a major portion of Meeker School District’s problems to whining teachers, parents who protect their darlings and student disrespect for education. Those are only a small part of what is wrong with this nation’s education system as a whole. And yes, the local TELLColorado results send a clear message that there are problems within this school district that need to be dealt with. They cannot and should not be ignored, and I never said otherwise.
Have been reluctant to weigh in on this discussion. But many people will say “The squeaky wheel gets attention.” Perhaps that is interpreted as whining. Truly that will be in the eye of the beholder.
Every teacher I know is concerned about student learning, safety and well-being overall. Standardized tests (not even mentioned in these discussions) do not address most of our students’ needs but are the focus of educational “reform.”
If one thinks of the impact teachers have on their students, their futures and thus the future of our community-locally, regionally, nationally and yes even globally, then why aren’t those who have been trained and must continue their training not considered the experts instead of those who have money, been through the system or simply have students?
Truth is everyone helps “raise a child” in a community; however each individual has their own unique contributing role. We value everyone’s expertise but those of teachers. Why? Wish I had that answer!
About this specific letter and opinion piece: open discussion never hurt anyone! Addressing issues head-on leads to solutions, revisions, improvements, etc. sooner than dancing around sparring with words.
Let the discussion continue but action is needed!