I am a teacher, and I have something to say. Sacramento slashes the funding that pays for the operation of my school district. Ridiculous rules regarding categorical funds allow for the Fern Street Circus to continue to teach juggling while Jackson Elementary had stood to lose most of its teaching staff.

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The new superintendent decides he “needs” 14 new chiefs to help him do a job he is being paid $240,000 a year to do. (It takes me well over five years to make that much money, and I can do my job without any help.) The school board apparently agrees to this incredibly wasteful expenditure. Pretty much everyone under the sun attacks the union and eventually blames the whole mess on me: an experienced teacher.

I would like for all of you to remember one thing. In the morning, when your child, grandchild, sibling, nephew or neighbor gets dropped off at school, he doesn't go to the governor, the Legislature, the superintendent, the chiefs, the school board, the press, the union, the union-bashers or the circus. The child goes to me. He goes to his classroom, sits in his chair, and learns – from me. That is the proverbial bottom line. Educating children is complicated and sure to get more complicated when there are not enough of me: an experienced teacher.

DAWN DOUGLAS
San Diego

In this day and age of belt tightening and budget cuts in education, is it possible that we might want to start looking in other directions to save money? It seems that most of the positions getting axed these days are ones directly connected to the kids. This probably isn't going to be a very popular way to save money, but I think it's worth a thought or two from everyone in this county.

We all want the same things for our kids and grandkids – a good education. That said, do you realize there are 42 public school districts in the city and county of San Diego? Most or all of these districts have a superintendent, a board of trustees, a human resources department, a business services department, etc. If we all are in agreement as to what the students basic needs are, then why do we have to have 42 groups doing the same thing over and over? How many times do we have to invent the wheel?

Other than the obvious 41 superintendents losing their jobs, etc., wouldn't we save a lot of money that would help solve at least part of the budget problems? I hate to see anyone lose his or her job, but education, not employment, should be the prime mover and maybe a new approach is needed to help solve this problem.

C.E. STAMPER
Escondido

Bill Dabbs (Letters, May 12) seems to be in favor of merit pay for teachers. This seldom works. Who does he think should judge the teachers and by what criteria? It would not be fair to fire teachers because students do not pass standardized tests.

There are many reasons why some students do not learn and teachers have very little control over these reasons. Most stem directly from the home. Do the parents value education? Do they assist the child? Do they provide an environment for the child to do homework without outside distractions? Do they limit TV viewing? Do they provide incentives?

A child may not be ready to grasp the concepts being taught. The teacher may teach the child many lessons that are not covered on the tests, especially in areas such as art, music, respecting others, love of history, love of country. The list goes on and on, and in this day of rigid testing, much learning is lost. Merit pay leads to sucking up to the evaluator. Is this what is wanted?

DIXIE JONES
Chula Vista

I agree with George Will's opinion of what's wrong with the education system in America (“Schools can't solve nation's problems,” Opinion, April 24). He basically said the schools are not the cause of the problem, but a symptom of the problem. The problem is the gradual disintegration of our society, which has been greatly exacerbated by the rise of the welfare state and the teachers unions in America.

I didn't apply myself in school as much as I could or should have. Was that the fault of my school or my teachers? No, it was my fault. You can spend as much money as you want to on books, computers, teacher salaries and all the other resources that go into education. But one thing you cannot do is educate a child who does not want to be educated. That starts in the home and in the peer group from which a child comes.

You don't need a background in education to know that. It's just plain common sense, but a lot of people are afraid to come out and say it. So, next time somebody says that the schools are “failing our children,” just remember that education is not a product that can be delivered like a package from Federal Express. It requires a sustained effort on the part of the student to receive the knowledge that is being imparted by the teacher.

Yes, some teachers are more qualified than others, and some schools are better funded than others. But these things will not stand in the way of a child who wants to learn, and too many children, unfortunately, do not. Teachers should not be blamed for this.

BRETT PANKAUSKI
Spring Valley

Regarding “Sightseeing not part of school's role” (Letters, May 14):

It's unfortunate that this reader wasn't there with us on the day we “Headed Out To Sea.” Given the opportunity, we would have gladly shared the details of the many nacho sales and donations that helped us provide for this learning experience and many similar activities. The kindergarten Social Studies Standards require that students know about the community.

We as teachers at San Diego's Edison Elementary want our children to understand and appreciate our city. I would like to assure her that not a single penny of her tax money was used to put the smiles on the faces of our kindergarteners. Many thanks go out to the San Diego Harbor Excursions for supporting our school. Our children will remember this day!

BARBARA LERMA
LILIAN KEPLER-GONZALEZ
San Diego

What if children have parents who are not interested in showing them the world around them, even on weekends? On what will they base their opinions on everything in life if they have almost no experiences beyond the home and the classroom?

Of course, schoolroom learning is extremely important, but there is a world beyond the walls of the school. Field trips are not merely for the purpose of sightseeing, even if they are entertaining. They are designed to give every child an opportunity to experience and observe what the children of conscientious parents already know, that one's eyes are valuable learning tools, too. A well-rounded education does not come from a classroom alone.

G. DIANE ALTONA
San Diego