December 12, 2001

Dear Sir,

While listening to the radio I heard a student comment that the teachers did not handle the situation at CedarBridge Academy in an appropriate manner. Upon hearing this comment I felt compelled to write this letter.

One can claim that a sit-out was inappropriate, but was it appropriate for a student to spit on a teacher and another to slap a teacher in the face? As adults and parents would you have readily accepted such behaviour? I feel that if these students respected authority the incidences would have never occurred. A lack of respect and morals led to such behaviour which should not have to be tolerated by any teacher. A teacher's role is to educate, not to be abused!

If teachers did not have to deal with delinquent behaviour on a regular basis from these students, a sit-out would not have been necessary. And one wonders why teachers are burned out and moving into other professions!

IN DEFENCE OF TEACHERS

Pembroke