## Mrs. Dolores Register, second grade teacher at Hamilton.
“In the first place too many people are looking at Hamilton from the outside without any actual knowledge of what is going on inside. I think these people should visit Hamilton before they criticize. •
“We are involved in many different programs in teacher training. Many institutions such as Washington University and Harris Teachers College use the school as a training ground for prospective teachers. We have such programs as EPDA, COP, Triple T. My point is that if these institutions see fit to send their interns to work with the regular teachers, they must feel that the interns can learn something of value, something which they can use later as teachers.
“The staff of the school is dedicated. It’s not to say that we don’t have our problems. But we do have an administrator who doesn’t get uptight and this creates an atmosphere that helps lessen tension and helps us provide a better education.
“Class size this year has been allieviated by bussing. I feel that it’s down to a managable level now.”
## Mrs. Jane Davis, Hamilton parent
“In my opinion Hamilton’s number one problem is overcrowding. If we could allieviate this it would give the teachers a chance to really develop quality education. I say, give us a new school or two adults per class.
“The number two problem is discipline. Teachers have to spend too much time on discipline.
“Hamilton needs more innovative programs and the load taken off the teachers so they could handle the programs. I’d like to see something done for the children with problems, emotional and behavioral – some new approaches to handling these children. The old way obviously don’t work.
“More teachers aides would free the teachers to really develop some of these programs. I’d especially like to see a crafts workshop for the children teaching them cooking, sewing, art, appliance repair, crafts. We complain about education being irrelevant; this would be one way of making it relevant. Most of the parents of Hamilton children work and the children have to do a large share of the work around the home. A crafts workshop would give them knowledge which they could use and results they could see.
“Why I don’t know, but Hamilton has a bad reputation in the community. I think the answer to this is a closer relationship between school and home. That’s why I’m gung ho on the community school (Mrs. Davis is chairman of the community school board). I think it’s a means of getting the parents involved. Another means is the mothers club which is doing many worthwhile projects for the school.”
Originally published in The Paper, May 1971.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1971_05.pdf, printed page 2.
