Letter to the Editor - Ray S. McLain III

On reading the article “School Board Reluctant to Grant Professional Development Days” I find it quite disturbing that the Grapeland Independent School District has any reluctance to support “staff development days.” Instead of being “at the expense of classroom instruction,” those days would likely improve the quality of classroom day one-hundred-fold.

We tend to underestimate the effort put in by teachers to prepare for their classroom time. I taught Physical Science and College Algebra when I finished graduate school. I found that to be fully prepared to teach 2 hours of class, I had to put in up to 6 hours of unpaid preparation time.

My wife and I retired to Grapeland about 3 years ago. I have encountered young people who seem lost in Algebra and Physics classes. As a retiree I really don’t want another full-time job, but I ponder what can I offer the Grapeland educational community? I have considered starting a tutoring service because some people have said I explain things in ways they can understand.

For fun I have been reviewing planetary motion calculations, the layout of guitar fret boards, Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus.

At every step of the way I realize if students have not mastered basic arithmetic in elementary school, they will be hopelessly lost trying to grasp the relationships between symbols when numbers are replaced by symbols in advanced mathematics.

I have heard people say, “When are you ever going to use Algebra?” My answers is, “You will never use it if you don’t look for opportunities to use it!” In my 40 years as an engineer, researcher and computer programmer hardly a day went by that I did not find a place to use Algebra. I owe my passion for science and mathematics to my high school Electronics teacher and Geometry teacher.

A well-coordinated education taught by brilliant dedicated teachers provides a foundation for a marvelously fulfilling lifetime, including a productive career and a love of learning.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s closing words from his Ph.D. Convocation speech ring true:

“It is remarkable what can be accomplished when you are surrounded by people who believe in you; people whose expectations are not set by the short sighted attitudes of society – people who help to open doors of opportunity, not close them.”

Please Grapeland Independent School District, remember this and support your teachers accordingly.

Ray S. McLain, III