Dear Indiana State Department of Education:

My daughter is a college student this year, and I just sent her a care pack. It was full of little items that I hope will make her next week a little brighter.  

IN DOE, I think you should give each diligent teacher a care pack. The contents should include the following:

a.  A PAT ON THE BACK. Not every teacher is lazy. Or stupid. Or evil.

b.  REASONABLE STEPS. Progress is made one step at a time. Trying to take every step as if it were a standing long jump is ridiculous and potentially harmful. Remember that parents and students must buy into this situation, too...and administrators can make or break the deal with their leadership.

c. REAL TEACHERS IN LEADERSHIP. In your commissions and conferences and committees, how many REAL teachers do you have? People who have worked in rural schools? People who have worked with disadvantaged kids? People who have taught more than 5 years in the trenches?  People who have a love of kids and content, have given family time and personal time for years upon end to complete what was necessary to help the kids learn? OH WAIT, those REAL TEACHERS aren't on the commissions because they don't want to take time away from their classrooms. (People who taught the minimum, became principals and superintendents quickly, and hopped onto state committees don't count.)

d. ANXIETY/DEPRESSION MEDS. Yeah, good teachers are increasingly more stressed out. Some of the best teachers I have ever known and have had the privilege of serving next to are considering leaving the profession. At the very least, send some blood pressure meds.

e.  PROTEIN SHAKES FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FRIENDS. They're working especially hard and are staying at school late at night. They need something to get through the dinner hour since they're not spending it with their families or pets.

f. A HANDSHAKE, NOT A SLAP. Oh, the irony.  Slap teachers around to "make them behave" and "do their job," institute all types of new rules and procedures. Have them fill out all types of paperwork to assure the public that they have the requisite knowledge.   Yes! That will make the situation better. Yet, if we were to employ those same techniques in the classroom, we would have limited success. Probably no success. Don't treat us poorly--no need to slap. Extend your hand; let's be partners in this challenging job.  We do need higher expectations, but we don't need a climate of fear or dread.  PS. If you have teachers who are not getting the job done--why not deal with those on an individual basis? 

g. A GOLD STAR.  Just because.