TEACHERS URGED TO TEACH VALUES

Teachers should consider including values in their curriculum alongside reading and arithmetic, suggests Kent King, executive director of the Missouri State Teachers Association.

King spoke at the 118th annual Southeast Missouri District Teachers meeting Friday at the Show Me Center.

"A lack of values is not just what's wrong in schools, but what's wrong in society," King told teachers. "I know times change, but not always for the better."

King said the responsibility for teaching values lies with parents. "Failing that, churches should step in," he said. "Failing that, we have a responsibility. These children are adrift.

"It's been left to the schools to give them a set of values, enforce those values and exhibit those values," King said.

He said many teachers have forgotten how to teach values or "they are nervous when they do. The fear factor is so high of offending someone that nothing is done."

King said it's time for educators to take a stand on the issue of values education.

"I'm tired of the bureaucracy," King said. "I'm tired of the zealots on both sides of the fence who don't want to listen but want to throw stones."

Keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich echoed some of Kings remarks.

"Anytime America has a problem, the first place we look is at the school house when we should be looking at our own house."

For teachers to be teaching values, Scharenbroich said, "is probably not fair, but you will do it anyway because you have to."

Scharenbroich talked about the teachers in his life who had an impact on him. He recalled one gym teacher who made him climb the rope in gym class after he had said, "I can't."

The coach, Scharenbroich related, told him after he climbed the rope that too many people would try to say he can't. "Don't be first in line, son."

Years later, Scharenbroich explained, he related the story to his former coach. The teacher didn't remember the incident.

"You don't remember," he told the teachers, "because it happens every day. You take a variety of people, bring them together and bring the best out of everyone."

Honored at the meeting were two teachers from Nell Holcomb school, Marion Weiss and Gerald Landewee.

JoAnn Hahs of Oak Ridge presided at the meeting as president of the Southeast District. Taking over leadership of the district for the next year is Kay Rebstock of New Madrid. Jo Peukert of Cape Girardeau serves as first vice president.