A parent is a child’s first teacher—as it should be.  But a parent is not the only teacher who guides that child.  Every person that child encounters, every book that child reads, every piece of music that a child listens to, or a work of art that a child gazes upon develops the framework for that child’s education—the framework for the person he or she is to become.

As a teacher, I take that task of exposure seriously. I am the gatekeeper for this world—the one who filters what your students see, hear, read, think, and debate. My job is to develop your child to become the independent readers, the critical thinkers, the parents of tomorrow.  I spend hours reading critically, thinking about how to best engage your child, to engage his/her brain, to spark that motivation to learn. I develop plans with each child in mind. I take into account the maturity of each student, the dynamics of each class—where each student is and where I need to take him/her.  I have already anticipated those “rough spots”—that word, the giggle, the blank stare, the questions. My classroom is the safe spot—the place where your child can learn, debate, question. To learn from each other, from me—but mostly from themselves. To know what THEY think and why.  I think of your children constantly.

I ask that in considering this amendment that you place your faith in me as an educator, as a parent, to use my judgment. I invite you into my classroom, to become a partner in your child’s education—not a passive bystander, but a partner.  But do not tie my hands with more bureaucracy with an impossible task, to know the minds of every parent. Send me an email, schedule a conference, come in, sit and watch—or participate. But have faith in me. I will not fail you.