PI vs. pie

Dear Editor:

It’s a great idea to make learning exciting and interesting, but enabling a student to throw a pie into the face of a teacher, principal or guidance counselor as a reward for learning the digits for the math formula PI, is going too far.

This was allowed to take place at the Math PI/Pie Day celebration at Paw Paw School. It crosses the boundary line of respect that should exist between student and teacher, student and principal, and student and counselor. If this kind of behavior is needed to get kids to learn, we are in big trouble.

The pie throwing segment of the celebration is a prime example of why some students have little or no respect for people in authority. I’m not blaming the kids, you understand. The blame belongs to those who encourage such disrespect. What are they thinking? Perhaps some think it is better to be a pal to their students rather than a guiding force in their lives.
“Back when I was a kid” — yep, the same old cliché from an old timer, but we need to go back and take a look at those days.

We knew nothing of our teachers’ private lives, whether they were married, had children or were having a baby. Today the kids know everything about a teacher’s home life and have discussions about it. I have no idea what concern this should be to the students and how this information would benefit their education.

We never put a hand on a teacher nor they us, even in fun. In today’s schools I’ve seen teachers and students bantering back and forth, shoving each other around like a couple of kids. Where is that line of respect?
Back when, teachers commanded respect and got it. They were there to teach, principals were there to govern, counselors were there to help, and we were there to learn.

Teachers should be approachable but be a role model, someone the kids can look up to and respect.

Elle Kronyak
Berkeley Springs