SCHOOLS: Hear what people say

We have heard from the teachers and the politicians. Let us hear from the parents and the students.

I know there are stories of great teachers who inspire our kids. I also know there are stories of heartbreak and frustration when your child is treated badly or failing, and you can't get anyone to listen, more less help you do something about it.

Let us hear the accounts of people who have gone to the school board or administrators and their feelings about those encounters.

Maybe if we get real and talk about what really happens in our schools, instead of letting the unions and politicians speak for us, we can get something done.

We have allowed the problems in our schools to turn into this political crisis. We have believed and trusted the education system with our children's education, even when it didn't sound or feel right. Why? Because we didn't want to make things hard on our child or embarrass them. Maybe we were afraid of being labeled a problem parent or looking stupid. Maybe we are just apathetic, so beaten down by an indifferent system that we're just getting our kids through school and then, can be done with it. Stop doing that!

There is nothing wrong with expecting great things from our teachers and administrators. There has got to be some accountability.

We should be giving the best wages to the teachers who are vested in teaching our children.

MARY WAGNER

Coeur d'Alene