To the editor:

I am 80 years old, have worked most of my life and still am active. My salaries were never anywhere near what most people earn in this modern age. What most people don’t seem to understand is that when the salary goes up, the cost goes up for all of us. It is difficult enough for us to keep city, state and federal taxes paid. When we have enough to live on to pay our medical and living expenses, we are very thankful.

I realize that teaching is a very difficult vocation; however, you are in school teaching classes for no more than six or seven hours each day. Sure, you have to prepare for the next day. That is your homework. Children have homework, and they need to know that they are doing a good job. Too many children are ill prepared to attend public school. They have not been taught responsibility for their actions, and this detracts from their ability to learn lessons that will help them every day.

I have never taught public school; however, I taught Sunday school for children for a number of years. Since many children do not go to Sunday school or church, they do not learn some of the very valuable lessons that would help them in public school.

There are many clubs and organizations that would perhaps help these little children to become more responsible — Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, other church related organizations.

Parents, make it your aim to teach your children how to be responsible, how to get along with other children, to be honest, and to thank you and their teachers for helping them to grow up to be good, reliable adults.

 

Mary Grace Garner-Atkins

Suffolk