Letter: Starting school late does not benefit students

Regarding the Jan. 26 story 'Cedar Rapids board delays late-starts vote”:

What is the mentality of those who would consider supporting the school late-starts Monday morning plan?

Education is already struggling to maintain its importance and academic standing.

Why expect parents to jockey their child care and work schedule so the teachers can plan for an hour or more every Monday morning? If more time is needed, why not have teachers stay late an hour or more on Friday afternoon 'to prepare curriculum and discuss strategies for the coming week”?

My 37 year teaching career started in 1947. It was with eyes wide open that teaching would not be a punch in and punch out on a time clock kind of job. Teaching is a profession. A dedicated professional of any genre can expect to spend extra time and energy whether it is convenient or not.

Yes, this is 2016, time has changed the variables (methods, technology, pay, etc.) of the equation. The constant of the equation remains 'the welfare of our students and their families.”

H. Joyce Williams

Cedar Rapids