Teacher loads

The letter questioning the need for early release days for teachers and their professional commitment shows a complete misunderstanding of the expectations of teachers in today’s schools.

First, all teachers spend countless hours after school in staff meetings, department meetings, grade level meetings, committee meetings, parent conferences, developing personal learning plans for struggling students, and the list goes on.

Second, all teachers spend personal time and money staying up to date in content and strategies to use.

Third, today’s schools expect and demand that teachers attend training as whole staff, small group, etc. And, now there is extensive training in implementing the new common core curriculum that demand, rightfully so, that teachers apply an interdisciplinary approach to teaching today’s students.

There is no time during the day to do this unless time is provided through early release. The day of the individual teacher working alone is gone, so we must provide time for collaboration on a regular basis.

Tom Benton

Retired principal

Zebulon