The latest educational statistics Pew Research reported seem somewhat grim. While there has been some improvement in children’s scores, the United States’ education system ranks notoriously mediocre compared to other advanced, industrial countries. While opinions and remedies for our education system abound, and certainly our government, parents, teachers, and students all bear responsibility, there is something to be said for teachers who err on the side of toughness, especially in the later grade years, rather than yielding. I can attest to this as many other people probably can too — without such teachers in my life, I may not have discovered work I truly enjoy.
Through elementary and high school, I attended a small private school which employed several of the same teachers to teach the same general subject, at different levels, for more than one year. When our school hired “Mrs. J.,” she came across as strict, stale, and (sorry Mrs. J!) a prude. She taught English and journalism, specifically for the school newspaper. I entered her class with dread. She was a stickler for adhering to grammar rules and required the best of every student. My papers that first year were stained with red pen.
