Yes, a raise and smaller class size

As a retired elementary schoolteacher who spent 31 years in the classroom, I am writing in response to the letter writer who feels that teachers do not deserve a COLA while also advocating for smaller class sizes. Over the years, my class sizes ranged from 36 second-graders in one room to 22 students in the best of times. I never worked less hard when I had fewer students, but I will say that my efforts were much more effective and that the advantages to my students were far greater. Rather than managing crowd control, I could actually spend time with every student and design instruction to fit the needs of each individual, which is something that takes an exorbitant amount of time and commitment. Let’s support our teachers in the immeasurably important role that they play in the lives of so many. They deserve not only a raise but our continued admiration and gratitude. And our students deserve to be known and to reap the advantages of smaller classes with effective and respected teachers.

Laurie Taylor VanderWeyst

Marysville