A PARENT'S LETTER TO THE TEACHER #2:

Dear Teacher,

Please help me. I've been working hard to instil in my children particular values and ethics I consider extremely important to their future roles as citizens - possibly leaders - of this country. Please help me to reinforce these values.

Please:

1. Don't use sarcasm. It only serves to belittle - and it undermines self-confidence.

2. Don't deride students in public or in private. If you do, you are abusing your position of trust while placing them in a frustratingly powerless position.

3. Don't reveal your dislike of the subject you are teaching. Students are helpless to do anything about it. They will wonder about the quality of your teaching - and so will I.

4. Don't drink alcohol, smoke or promote illegal drugs in the presence of your students. I would expect you, who are in a position of authority, not influence my children in that direction.

5. Don't swear at or within hearing range of students. It is our responsibility to teach them to express themselves with an acceptable vocabulary, as well as to vent their anger and frustration in an appropriate manner.

Please:

1. Do teach students to respect themselves and others by treating them with respect.

2. Do listen to students' questions. Let them know no question is stupid.

3. Do answer students with patience. They truly want to understand.

4. Do encourage students to participate and to express themselves. Reward them for a job well done.

5. Do allow adequate time for assimilation of information, discussion, debate and questions. Students will feel good about their increasing knowledge.

6. Since not everything is learned by absolutely everyone immediately or at the same time, offer a different approach or style of teaching that might be more successful.

7. Connect the relevancy of what you are teaching to the world around your students.

8. Be prepared. Be organized. These are essential skills for success that students will hopefully emulate.

9. Be prompt. Return students' graded work quickly. Promptness indicates a well-organized individual who is respectful of others.

10. Give students your full attention so they know you consider each of them important.

FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT THIS 'LETTER TO THE TEACHER', E-MAIL nellie@nelliejacobs.com.