Phyllis Bickerstaff to President Bush from a 25-year female public school teacher–complaints concerning federal education restrictions/requirements

31 P45 Educ Views, teacher 2318 - 19th Street Wyandotte, mi. 48192 October 9, 1989 President George Bush 1600 Pennsylvania are Washington, D.C. 20291. Dear mr. President, d have been a public school teacher for twenty five years Since I am nearing the end of my career l find myself looking two ways; backward at what I've seen and done in education and forward at what needs to be done. There have been countless high level summits and meetings on how to improve america's public education. d have never heard the officials at these meetings ash a teacher what the main problems and weaknesses are l have never seen a teacher asked to speah on national television on how to achieve real school improvement. l have never heard of a teacher address an educational summit meeting on how to best educate america's youth It would seem no one ever asks a teacher what is needed for better results The "Hederally Funded "pro grams have such strict guidelines that they have become a source of frustration. a child with real academic needs cloes not always fall in the prescribed guidelines Teachers are bogged down with paper work robbing them of precious planning time Classes are so over - crowded, it is most difficult to give students the individual Concern and help needed thant the real solutions and answers? ash the teachers! Sincerely, Mrs. Phyllis Bickerstaff