Dolly McGrath: Modesto City Schools board should listen to teachers

The Modesto Bee failed to inform parents, guardians and the public that on March 2 a very important Modesto City Schools Board meeting took place. Nearly 100 elementary teachers attended. Five teachers presented to board members eye-witness accounts of the thousands of one-on-one assessments teachers are required to give students. Their data shows that for the past several years our students have fallen further and further behind in the basics.

Interesting, isn’t it, that a school board would continue to ignore the very ones who would know this! For years teachers have presented this information. So, what gives? Our district has evolved into a data-driven educational system instead of a student-driven educational system. Hundreds of hours of actual teaching have been lost. Does the board not know that kindergarten is the foundation for all future learning and behavior? It’s sort of like the foundation of a newly built home. If you neglect the foundation you will have problems down the road.

During the board meeting one of the panel members made an interesting point. He said that teachers learn from their students and that is good. Well, that same concept can be applied to the board listening to their teachers.

This story was originally published March 4, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Dolly McGrath: Modesto City Schools board should listen to teachers."