Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1437090
U P F R O N T L E T U S K N O W W H A T Y O U T H I N K . We accept signed email and letters; we excerpt user posts from CTA social media platforms and cta.org/educator. Content subject to editing for clarity and space. Photos must have permissions. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of CTA. Editor@cta.org; #WeAreCTA O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 V O L U M E 2 6 I S S U E 2 The transformative power of community schools PAGE 18 Building Heart and Hub Second-Year Scramble Educators, schools cope with year two of the pandemic PAGE 28 Temple Grandin's Mind PAGE 15 Escape Rooms for Class PAGE 41 CTA/NEA Micro-Certifications PAGE 40 New Special Ed Credentials Coming PAGE 45 School Furniture Regarding the letter in the October/November issue about dilapidated classroom chairs and desks in a low-income school district, I have taught in a high-income district in the East Bay, and the majority of our furniture is from the '70s and '80s. Our carpets are cleaned once a year and are 35 years old and in horrible shape, only to be replaced by something lower quality. We have more technology, so the district can implement more online testing with the same clunky grading software. High-income district with the same issue. KIM LOISEL Fremont Unified District Teachers Association e Modern World I am carefree about the Educator being wrapped in plastic. [Our August/September issue was packaged with CTA membership cards in plastic bags.] As an educator, I don't push my beliefs on students and would never mention this to them. Please reconsider using plastic in the future, since this is the modern world. Also, fossil fuels have lifted humanity out of poverty. It's a historical fact. But since those opposed to fossil fuels want to depopulate the planet, they won't mind at all never receiving the Educator. ANDREW STEWART Associated Chaffey Teachers Get in the Educator ! W E ' D L O V E T O hear from you. We publish members' letters and longer articles. Email editor@cta.org with the specific topic (in boldface below) in the subject line, and include your name, chapter and contact info. Ways to contribute: Letter to the Editor — Respond to content that has appeared in the Educator (in print or at cta.org/educator, at right); letters and emails have a 200-word limit and are subject to editing for clarity and space. Your Voice — Have something to say about your students, the art and science of teaching, or being an educator in the trenches? Tell us about your experience, your thoughts and opinions — funny, serious or both — in no more than 650 words. Don't forget: We take note of members' new(ish) works (books, blogs, movies, podcasts, albums and more) that can be used in the classroom in Lit From Within (see page 60). Community Schools: Whole Child Education Really good articles on community schools in the October/November issue ("Building the Heart and Hub"). I appreciate the work that went into interviewing people all over the state who are making this happen. Perceptive quote from Ingrid Villeda, who said students "can't focus on academics if they 're hungry or sad or tired." I appreciate the leadership provided by CTA Vice President David Goldberg. I strongly support the goal reported in the article, "of turning every school where 80 percent or more of students live in poverty into a community school over the next five years." JIM BURFEIND CTA/NEA-Retired 4 cta.org