Write-a-Letter Wednesday, Editor of IndyStar

(This article appeared on IndyStar.com yesterday. I wrote to the editor, hoping to get published, but knowing I already had my Wednesday letter finished either way!)

Dear Editor,

Recently, I read the article "Challenges Clear for School 61 Kindergarteners," which was posted to indystar.com on Aug. 24th. I must say, I was surprised by the underling suggestion that parents are responsible for their children's underpreparation.

Haven't the reporters at Indy Star heard that teachers are to blame for the downfall of the American Education system? To point fingers at parents--especially the unfortunate, single mothers and low-income families--for the delays of their children is like saying parental duty goes beyond feeding and clothing their offspring.

In today's tough economy, how do we expect overworked and underpaid parents to know a teacher's name and attend important meetings, much less begin instructing their kids at home before Kindergarten? Don't you know parents pay tax dollars to have someone else socialize their children?

The article quoted early childhood professor Mary Benson McMullen, but failed to recognize her statement for the enlightenment is was: "Children don't need to be ready for [teachers]. [Rather, teachers] need to be ready for each and every child who walks through the door." If those teachers can't reverse a few bad habits (like being unable to speak) by the end of the school year, then why are we paying them the big bucks?

Clearly, what we need is a more centralized government--to throw money and policies at our education system. Also, we could do with more bonuses and other incentives to motivate those lazy teachers trying to amass a fortune in their careers without having to work. Finally, we should tell the administrators complaining about the unready students to lighten up and do their job! This situation is bound to happen during a child's first year, when people get crazy ideas like "parents should be involved in education."

Insincerely,
An Indiana Teacher

P.S. Perhaps our school district should work toward after-school programming that allows teachers to take their students home, feed them dinner, and put them to bed. Some kids in my class still struggle with a spoon and fork, toileting, and other self-help operations, and--again--I know parents are busy. I'm just looking for ways to do my job better.