In Florida teachers are targeted unfairly

From TampaBay.com

I retired from the Florida school system after 24 years and the teachers I worked with over the years have done an outstanding job in preparing our children for their role in the 21st century.

Each year, there is one more item to put on a teacher's plate, and one more strategy to perform, all with the hope that students will be able to take what they've learned and become well-rounded citizens within our community.

Teachers work well beyond the school day until late at night preparing the next day's lessons. With all that teachers do, it seems that it is not enough. The governor and the state Legislature have done everything possible to ruin the spirit of teachers, insulting them by passing laws detrimental to the teaching profession, and cutting educational funding for our students. To put the blame of educational woes solely on the backs of teachers is totally unfair.

There are three parts to the educational equation: Teachers; students who need to realize the importance of an education, and parents, who must take a more active role in their children's education. They need to show up for parent conferences requested by teachers and administrators.

It has been mentioned that you can't legislate the parents. If that is true, then who is the next best target? Teachers?

If children see their parents are not concerned enough to make a phone call when they see bad grades on a progress report or report card, why then, should the students care? Teachers need help from the parents, not excuses.

Parents need to make time for their children, and not just rely on the teachers. There are many parents who are good parents and they get involved in their children's education. To those parents, I say thank you. Unfortunately, there are too many parents who don't make the time or show concern.

Our governor and legislators have no idea what it is like to be a teacher in the classroom. They should substitute in the classroom for a firsthand look at what happens when the three-part equation is broken. They should try it for a while and gain insight into what the classroom teacher does in the course of a day.

What they are doing to education in Florida is a travesty and not proactive. The governor and the state legislators think they know what is best for Florida education, even though some never taught in a classroom. They are trying to tell teachers how to teach. State officials need to remove the bull's-eyes off the backs of teachers because they are doing everything they can to provide their students with a quality education.

I have had two children who have gone through the Pasco school system, and they both received an outstanding education from the teachers they had. I would like to thank those teachers for doing a great job.

Teachers need to be treated with courtesy and respect more than ever. The next time you come across a person who is a professional schoolteacher, show your appreciation by thanking them for doing a very difficult job that many people just can't do.

Rick Ardizzone