Dear Editor,
This past week has been Teacher Appreciation Week and I feel the
teachers of the Gilroy Unified School District need to be
congratulated, honored and respected for the wonderful job they do
daily in their classrooms.
Dear Editor,
This past week has been Teacher Appreciation Week and I feel the teachers of the Gilroy Unified School District need to be congratulated, honored and respected for the wonderful job they do daily in their classrooms. Their tasks are not easy. Few professions require such highly developed skills in so many diverse areas.
A week ago my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the Open House at the school where our grandchildren attend. I’m not going to name that school because I am sure you would find this experience to be similar at all of our neighborhood schools. We were thrilled as we passed through classroom after classroom noticing and appreciating all the excellent work the children have been producing in every subject throughout the school year.
With the California Standards prominently displayed, and year-long examples of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies projects set out, one could easily be awed by the scope and depth of the curriculum. Classrooms were upbeat and alive as proud students showed their work to even prouder parents. Open house is truly a time for joyful celebration.
With district guidelines supporting a sound curriculum, Gilroy’s dedicated and highly skilled teachers are giving it their best shot to reach every student. It’s a challenge, but one they attempt to cheerfully take up day after day. Do they feel every day is perfect? I bet not, but because they take their professional responsibilities seriously, they keep aiming for the high road.
What about the test scores, you ask? Do you know that every state has its own test, and the California tests are actually harder than the tests given to children in many other states? In some states, elementary school children actually get to retake the part of the test they did not do well on, and those are the scores that are reported.
But education isn’t just about test scores. It’s about reaching the total child! I was reminded of that at the open house.
Thank you, teachers, for caring so much about the youth in our community.
Chris Bradshaw, Gilroy