Don't settle for bad teachers in schools

I am sending out an SOS to all parents out there -- Save Our Schools.

I am not talking about passing a huge tax increase or anything of the sort. My call is for parents, no matter what grade level, to speak up against lousy teachers.

Every school has at least one. It is the teacher all the kids talk about, who is mean, boring, vindictive, inept, whatever. These detriments to public education seem to come back year after year like some zombie in a horror film. Most of them have tenure and know that aside from raping or killing a student they will still have a job, no matter what they do (or don't do).

I am calling on all parents to listen to their students when they say a teacher is mean to the students. She doesn't answer questions, etc. Look at the syllabuses, progress reports and other teacher-generated correspondence your student brings home. Contact the teacher via e-mail or voice mail immediately when you have a question or concern. If the teacher blows you off, take it to the next level and contact the school administration. Keep a record of your e-mails, dates of calls, etc. If you are not satisfied with the school administration's response, take it to the district level. Keep going. Eventually you will hit a politician. They don't have tenure.

If the facts are on your side do not let the entrenched bureaucracy stop you. Sometimes you will actually get things resolved and these lousy teachers will change their ways. Other times they will get better and then revert back to their old ways. Either way you have accomplished something and your student will benefit.

It all comes down to this -- you wouldn't put up with lousy customer service if you were buying something from a store. You would either go to another store or complain. Unfortunately most of us are stuck with the schools in our district and do not have the option to go to another unless we move.

I wish I could afford private school for my son. If I could, I would yank him out of public school in a heartbeat. With private school the money comes out of your pocket immediately. If you encounter lousy teachers, you find another school.

The public school system still gets our money, via taxes. We pay the teachers and administrations salaries. We are the consumers - the schools are the stores and the teachers and administrators are the customer service reps. Do not settle for buying a defective product.

Phil Somgynari

Lindenhurst