[I think] they could use plenty of teachers in schools, rather than down sizing the schools.
Morris Artis
N.W.
Viewpoint
Do you think the city is being fair to the 700 or so teachers being laid-off due to right sizing and modernization of the District of Columbia Public School system?
Interviews by Carlton R. Van Lowe. Photos By Joanne Jackson.
There are a lot of things going on with this new school system, and I don’t think the best decisions have been made. Teachers, as a whole in this country, are undervalued, and we really send mixed messages about how we really feel about education. About them being treated fairly, I don’t know if I can say yes or no, but, I definitely can say as a whole I don’t think the administration has done as much as they can for the teachers.
Courtney Hinton
P.G. County, Md.
I feel indifferent about it actually. I believe that some of them, in all fairness, have become complacent with the situation and the behavior of the students, so it may be time for them to go. But others that don’t fit in that category, yeah it’s just a bit unfair to them. However, it may end up being the best thing for the city and for the students because maybe they’ll get some other professionals in there that will be able to handle the situation and clean it up.
Tony Scurry
N.E.
We need as many teachers as we can possibly get. If they’re modernizing the schools now, it’s best to retrain the teachers and put them in other areas. But I don’t agree with them laying off teachers at this point.
Falecia Stuckey
Howard County, Md.
