To the editor:
As a high school English teacher with 10 years of experience in the classroom, I want to adamantly stress [sic] that there is only one overriding reason teachers quit: the steady erosion of authority and respect. (“If teachers didn't pay income tax, would they be less likely to quit?” editorial, April 8)
Too many students are out of control, and there are zero standards of behavior for them. Take any large high school in Los Angeles and look at the manner in which officials address discipline. You’ll find that teachers are on their own once they close that classroom door.
Students can do anything with impunity. Many parents don’t care about their children’s behavior, and principals often treat disruptive students like high-powered clients due to the litigious nature of our society.
The truth is, effective teachers aren’t too concerned about earning a higher salary. This fight is for our survival and, I would argue, that of society itself.
Alejandro Escudé, Los Angeles
