No time for teacher tutoring

RE: TEACHERS ALREADY WORKING AT CAPACITY (APRIL 7)

I agree! As a teacher for several years, my vocation was not only a nine to four job with summer vacations. Many hours are spent in preparation. Writing a ‘plan’ for the following day’s coverage; researching for additional information and data; deciding how best to enlighten my students; preparing ‘concrete material’ to enhance student comprehension; arranging parent interviews in late September (and also in mid-January) to discuss and glean information about the child. Weekends were spent preparing tests, marking papers and assignments, together with an overview for the week ahead. I arrived at my classroom by 8 a.m. to prepare board-work and often remained after 4 p.m. to print necessary handout material. Detentions, if necessary, were at 8 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. and at this time, an additional assignment was issued to said student(s) to be completed overnight. While at school, teachers attended meetings with the principal and staff; and especially in public school, teachers were assigned ‘yard duty’ daily to ensure safety.

Summers, many teachers took courses to improve their credentials or embarked upon a well-deserved holiday. William Arthur Ward states, “The mediocre teacher tells; the good teacher explains; the superior teacher demonstrates; the great teacher inspires!”

Merle Baird-Kerr, Burlington