Evening star., 1948-09-28
In Behalf of Teachers

To the Editor of The Star:
May make plea for the many fine teachers
and officers who are giving conscientious and
valuable service to the education of children
in the washington public schools? These men
and women are interested in the growth and
DEVELOPMENT Of children and are devoting their
lives to the youth of our city. The public
school system is not closed corporation, thank
goodness and the Board of Education has been
able to choose and secure the services of out
standing educators throughout the Nation.
This has helped strengthen rather than weaken
the system.
The Mother of Teacher" who has the real
'low down. on what is going on in the public
schools makes one wonder why so many teach
ers day after day put up with such undemo-
cratic procedures. One example does not prove
the rule, however. I know of teachers in the
Washington public schools who work demo-
cratically, sharing and cooperating one with
the other, under the leadership of an "out OF
town appointed" administrator who happens
to have real love for and interest In, chill
dren, and who plans and works together with
her teachers for the general welfare, and other
teachers under administrators who have come
up from the ranks" vino work pleasantly and
comparatively with and for children.
There are hundreds Of teachers teaching the
three Rs in the District public schools every
day. They are not only allowed" to teach
reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, history,
geography etc., but are encouraged and d.
1ected by their principals and other school
officers to do so. Courses Of study on these
subjects, set up by the Curriculum Committee
working together with the teachers, are readily
available to those who wish to see them.
A teachers life is not an easy one and she
needs the encouragement and support OF the
parents, if she Is to help the children success
fully The old saying that teachers can only
"teach" children, they cannot learn" them,
is significant today more than 1t was some
years ago. Children are coming to school VINO
do not know what it means to obey, who nave
never had any real responsibility and who nave
never had to do anything they did not wish
to do. This makes teaching very dlfficult
task, especially when the class is large ana
the teacher inexperienced; and there are many
inexperienced teachers in classrooins IN the
District and throughout the country today
This condition needs to be remedied, but the
kind of letters that have been appearing IN
The Star lately will not help remedy it. They
are doing real harm by breaking down the
morale of the experienced teacher who is trying
to help children learn In spite OF the hanolcaps
under which they come to school.
There is q tendency on the part Of parents
throughout the country to take sides against
the teachers and principals, thereby blocking
any help that the teachers wish to- give their
children. If they realized that this an
tagonism only worked to the detriment OF the
children, they would work with the teachers
instead of against them.
Let us work together for the good OF the
children. Sarcasm and name calling will not
help. Understanding and cooperation WILL
A TEACHER.