Letters: Disempowered teachers are a problem for state's schools

"Teachers have almost no authority over student behaviors or academic grading, and are given little, if any, respect from administrators, parents or even students. Instead, students have all the authority but no responsibility for their success. Students do (or don't do) whatever they wish, while empty-handed teachers are left to take the blame. Teachers no longer have the ultimate tool of flunking students."

"As someone who has spent years partnering with women leaders in African communities, I have seen firsthand how local people not outside donors build and sustain health systems that keep families alive and economies stable. This is why last week's House action matters. In a rare moment of bipartisan clarity, the House increased global health funding to more than double the administration's proposed level proof that Congress can still choose partnership over abandonment."

Teachers currently have almost no authority over student behavior or grading and receive little respect from administrators, parents, or students. Students hold authority without responsibility, doing as they please while teachers, lacking tools like the ability to fail students, are blamed. Low-performing students lower class standards and many high school graduates function below grade level in math, English, or both. U.S. congressional action recently increased global health funding to more than double the administration's proposal. Local communities, especially women leaders in African communities, build and sustain health systems; withdrawing support closes clinics, drives away trained workers, and leads to preventable deaths.

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