Based on Superintendent of Schools Mario Andrade’s several recent letters to the editor, I take it that he is convinced that the social, emotional and behavioral needs of school aged children is the responsibility of public education, and, therefore, the classroom teacher.

I disagree, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of the few more chronic and seriously disruptive kids. Teachers are educated, trained and hired to teach and not to be social workers for youngsters who tend to act more like little or bigger punks than students.

A classroom with a punk or two or three commands too much of a teacher’s time and attention and makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the teacher to teach effectively or for the other children in the class to be able to focus on learning.

What I never saw once mentioned in Mr. Andrade’s several letters were words like discipline, respect, personal responsibility and proper behavior.

I think it is high time for educators, legislators and courts to think longer and harder on entrusting teachers with the judgment, authority and discretion to impose appropriate discipline on students who insist on acting out in the classroom. And it is past time for school administrators to support their teachers and begin to hold those responsible for their childrens’ chronic misbehavior — the parents.

Instead, we opt for more behaviorists and perhaps at the cost of needed excellent teachers.

Pete Hewett
Bristol