facebook-pixel

Letter: Parents already have plenty of ways to have their say about how schools are run

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Teachers and their supporters gather at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020.

As a retired teacher with over 40 years in classrooms, I’m so tired of hearing the right-wing gibberish about parents not having their say about how schools are run and how teachers teach.

Have these angry people never heard of Back to School nights, parent-teacher conferences or school board elections?

I consulted with countless parents. Most parents were very supportive and appreciative. One mother cried as I had taught her mentally-challenged daughter to write her own name. Other parents, sometimes very angry, transferred their children out of my classroom.

No parent was ever denied a meeting. It is prescribed by federal law that an annual meeting be helded for all special needs students. Rather than spending time haranguing school personnel, better to volunteer your time, donate supplies and otherwise get positively involved.

Most teachers are forced to deal with enough anger issues, likely from your children, without the same behavior from the parents.

What with poor pay, overcrowded classrooms and now fear of parents, it’s amazing that anyone wants to enter or remain in this noble profession.

Ted Ottinger, Taylorsville

Submit a letter to the editor