THE PUBLIC MIND: CONTRARY TO ARTICLE, MOST EDUCATORS DON'T ABUSE THE SYSTEM

To the Editor:

As we all know, the front page of any newspaper carries the most important news of the day, and editors make decisions as to which events are of most interest to readers. The front page of the March 15 Southeast Missourian included an Associated Press story concerning a moonlighting professor. The professor in question stated he had never missed an office hour in 17 years. For three months, before he was caught, he had held two full-time jobs at universities more than 1,100 miles apart. Then, the subject switched to the accountability of all professors! The article never explained how one professor managed that little feat of legerdemain! Obviously, the article was not to inform but to cast aspersions upon the academic community.

Having once worked at the Southeast Missourian, and having appreciated the articles of Gary Rust, Peter Kinder, and many staff members, I cannot believe that such was your intention. I would prefer to believe that the inclusion of the article was an inadvertent error in choice. Please consider the consequences as I see them.

The last few years it is obvious that certain political thinking contributes to division of classes such as the rich versus the poor, and it seems that some believe that anyone who furthers his/her education must be rich never mind that many students receive scholarships, loans, and grants to attend school, not to mention those who work their way through. Those who prefer to advance their studies, as opposed to those who join the work force in their still formative years, seem to be viewed as elitists and therefore un-American.

Those who devote years of their lives to study should be rewarded; in most parts of the world education is valued. People must recognize that students sacrifice immediate earning opportunities while devoting years to study. However, in this country, many people seem to believe that college students are somehow an elite group who use their studies in an effort to avoid responsibility. Some do ... just as con-artists exist in every walk of life, as evidenced by this one professor in question. But the majority of students are hard-working and dedicated to their personal goals, and eventually they contribute much to society.

The same can be said for teachers and professors. Most are dedicated to improving the educational level in this country, but some use their positions for personal gain. As a former student and teacher at Southeast Missouri State University, I can attest to the professionalism of the faculty and to the dedication of the students. Of course, SEMO has its share of bad apples it is not Utopia but the fact that the administration is attempting to choose those students who have proven themselves to be serious students is one means of weeding out those who are not yet ready to make a personal commitment.

I sometimes wonder why students commit themselves to years of study when, too often, they face discrimination and even hostility from those who do not appreciate their efforts. The situation is even worse for those who dedicate their lives to service of their fellow man through teaching. If you believe that remark to be overstated, make a mental note the next time you hear a complimentary remark concerning teachers and balance it with all the negative remarks you have heard.

Pam Schmid, the author of the Associated Press article, stated that many professors insist they've become scapegoats at colleges and universities because of the budget crises. Those numbers should include all teachers. Consider the many teachers who lost positions in the public school system in the last few years. Class sizes have increased and school have had to eliminate some courses altogether. It is difficult enough to teach reasonable sized classes in a country where so many resent authority, but in overloaded classrooms it becomes a losing situation. Is it any wonder that so many high school graduates are not prepared for extended study?

Now, the colleges and universities face the same consequences. Is it any wonder that the administration of SEMO decided to increase class size and eliminate the cost of "extra" teachers? The voting public hardly seemed to notice when the situation occurred in the elementary and secondary schools. It is a safe guess that they won't care that the colleges "cut corners" even though it negatively affects the last bastion of "excellence in education." The students' know~ledge, and in turn, their effectiveness as educated Americans is ~lessened.

Where did the nation's unprepared students come from? From the public school system where the teachers are required to teach too many students in too many classes. No time is allotted to tutor those pupils who are struggling, because the teachers are expected to teach grammar, reading, spelling, creative thinking, research, and writing techniques. They are expected to funnel the information into the minds of their pupils, all of whom are eager and receptive, right? If production line workers were saddled with the responsibility of attempting to cope with parts that don't work, intermingled with parts that do, how long would it be before all production in this country would break down?

What's wrong with education in America? Perhaps we should spell that "Amerika," since we have decided to allow class envy to affect educational policies. Or, we could just give up and reduce all students to the lowest common denom~inator. Maybe we can altogether eliminate funding for education.

Had Ms. Schmid emphasized that one renegade professor had been able to defraud the system for only three months and had she not emphasized the views of Robert Iosue who indicated that many of the faculty are "taking advantage of the system," the article could have been seen for what it is: the unusual, one in which dog bites man rather than the more common occurrence.

I would also suggest that if Mr. Iosue knows that those illicit actions occur, in his capacity as president of York College in Pennsylvania, he should become responsible for weeding out those guilty parties.

Shirley Schlitt

Oran