LETTERS: SPEAKING UP FOR DELTA HIGH

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter on behalf of those who went to Delta High School and made it to graduation before dropping out.

First of all, I would like to say that Carrie Cline's report regarding dropouts at Delta on Sept. 12 on KFVS-12 was one-sided. No one was interviewed who did graduate from Delta. Many other residents I've spoken to thought her report was a poor excuse for investigative reporting.

Not all, but many of the people I have known to drop out of Delta schools also have a hard time keeping a job. The sister of one of the dropouts was interviewed and basically said the teacher pushed her brother to drop out, calling him names such as stupid. In all my years at that school, I never hard a teacher call the students names. I believe much of the problem may be the attitude of these individuals.

Many of the parents shown on television who attended the school board meeting are the same people who believe their children can do no wrong. Discipline should have begun at home long ago for some of these kids and it would make the job of the teachers and staff much easier.

Teachers are often put down by the public, but it takes a strong person to make a career out of teaching. Most of the students don't give their teachers much problem, but there are those who do. Teachers have do jobs to perform with these students.

The first, they must educate these kids so after high school they have the basic knowledge needed to make it through life. Secondly, they must parent these students, trying to teach them respect and responsibility.

My grandmother teaches fifth grade at Delta Elementary. On several occasions, she has participated in the home schooling program. I know first-hand that she cares for her students and will do all she can to help them. Home schooling wasn't done during the 8-3 school day. It was done on her time. Never once did I hear her complain. To her, satisfaction of helping another student succeed was enough.

Delta High School isn't a bad school -- certainly not what it was made out to be in a poor television report. The report should have included the majority of the students who walk from class to class each day, those same students who will walk down the aisle for their diploma.

I would like to thank all the teachers and staff in the Delta school system. Keep up the good work. There are many, many more of us in support of you than opposed.

JANIE ADAMS

Chaffee

1991 graduate of Delta High School