Hinsdale High School Teachers Association

Mr. Donald P. O’Neill, in his Editorial in The Doings on November 7, said he thinks your high schools are sad. He thinks the education your children receive is substandard, that teachers want to avoid working with kids, that the parents don’t have a clue, and that they are woefully inadequate for not being hopping mad about the sorry state of the schools.

While he makes some patently false claims, including something about the teachers eliminating four contact days during a negotiation (He must be referring to late start days, which the administration requested and the teachers did not negotiate), his accusation about the teachers complaining about the moment of silence as “an irreparable loss of educational opportunity for our students” is simply ridiculous. Certainly, the HHSTA does not hold the position that the Moment of Silence mandated by law creates a loss of educational opportunity.

Education in District 86 is not sad. In a recent ranking of schools by test score, Hinsdale Central placed as the highest ranked school in DuPage County and the 5^th highest in the state.

But District 86 is much more than its test scores. It is a vibrant, hearty and vigorous place that allows kids to grow and transform themselves into what they are trying to become. It is a place filled with teachers committed to the task of not only educating kids, but caring about them, challenging them, supporting them and praising their numerous achievements. The parents of District 86 are not a bunch of woefully inadequate, head in the sand, know-nothings, but a group of involved, encouraging people who send the District extremely good kids.

Mr. O’Neill can think what he wants about the district. Just make sure you don’t believe him.

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