Education -- Stop Blaming Teachers For The Behavior Problems Of Students

I have a position that takes me in to public, private and parochial schools. I have yet to meet a teacher who didn't care deeply for his or her students. In many cases, I find the teacher cares more for the child than the parent does.

We are constantly blaming our schools and teachers for the behavior problems we are seeing in today's children. How foolish, these children come into our classrooms a mess.

I know teachers who personally want to shake parents and ask what on earth they are doing in the home to screw these kids up? Teachers are so tired of parents who put careers, sports, travel, money, everything ahead of the needs of their children. Parents who give birth to these children are shocked at the commitment needed to raise healthy children, and choose not to do so.

Most teachers I know spend 50 to 60 hours a week on educating our children. They suffer for their students and the sadness they see in their homes.

I have seen teachers cry for the children they know are neglected, whether it is financially, emotionally or physically.

I know teachers who buy clothing for their students. Another gives the student her home number so the child alone at night has a "safety number" to call while mom and dad are at an investment-club meeting.

Two Tacoma teachers make goodie bags for the students to take home because they know they won't have a meal until the school breakfast the next day.

Yet, these teachers are unable to provide down payments on their own homes. Would any of us make these sacrifices in our professions? In no other profession do we demand such a high performance level and give such little reward.

Recently two teachers risked their lives in a violent school setting to save their students, one teacher died. Like the teachers I encounter daily these people valued the lives of their students above their own. How dare we criticize their commitment to educating our children.

For those of you who blame every ailment in our society on the schools and teachers, spend the day in a classroom. Get there at 7 a.m., stay till 7 p.m. Go home and grade papers till 10 p.m. Take $50 out of your meager paycheck and spend it on your kids. Try not to worry about the kids for an entire weekend. Hope to God that one of your kids doesn't get a whuppin' for just being alive. Ask yourself if you would teach. . . I think not!

Margaret Irvine Seattle