Occasionally The Kent Reporter publishes letters from citizens who have strong opinions about the Kent School District (or in some cases multiple rambling opinions that don\u2019t seem to be based on actual knowledge).<\/p>\n
I am a former teacher who spends considerable time volunteering at an elementary school in Kent, and I\u2019d like to share an insider\u2019s point of view. Many of the students at our school come from challenging home situations, yet every week these children are smiling, friendly, and ready to work hard. You can thank the school staff for creating such a welcoming and safe environment.<\/p>\n
The teachers I assist are constantly striving to differentiate instruction to meet the various requirements of their students. If you think that\u2019s an easy task, it\u2019s because you\u2019ve never tried it.<\/p>\n
Have you ever seen a hungry or abused child valiantly struggle through seven hours of reading, writing, and math? Our teachers, support staff, and administrators are sometimes the last line of defense for a child or family in distress – at my school these employees form a unified team that looks at student data and determines how to respond promptly and effectively to student needs.<\/p>\n
Nobody is secretly engaged in a power struggle to run the school, nor do we need a \u201cunion-busting attorney\u201d as Art Dahlen\u2019s colorful letter asserts. (\u201cWho is running our schools?\u201d Feb. 10 Kent Reporter.)<\/p>\n
From Superintendent Vargas all the way down to the unpaid volunteers, we in Kent School District are all too busy improving children\u2019s lives for such ludicrous and unnecessary schemes.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t always agree with each other, and that\u2019s OK \u2014 great minds don\u2019t accomplish great things by agreeing with each other all the time. When any group of intelligent people has the courage to put pride aside and ask difficult questions, an opportunity is created for debate and critical thinking.<\/p>\n
Are we serving our students to the best of our abilities and resources? Are we making the wisest choices with our limited budget? Are we giving teachers the training and support they need to do excellent work?<\/p>\n
If your answer is, \u201cI think we can do better!\u201d and you\u2019re willing to work hard, then please join our team.<\/p>\n
However, if you think the solution is to dash off a letter to the editor blaming everyone in the district from the top on down, then frankly you\u2019re not contributing anything of value.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mary Schiechl<\/p>\n
Auburn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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