Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/602151
feedback Y O U R O P I N I O N S A N D L E T T E R S A R E W E L C O M E ! There is a 250-word limit, and all letters will be edited. If you send photos or other materials, identifications and permissions are required. Letters must include your name along with your address, daytime telephone number or email address. Email editor@cta.org. Prescription for Teachers and Students Each month I read with interest issues of CTA and NEA publications and am always filled with two emotions: Awe of what a great job educators are doing daily in the classrooms, and sadness at the conditions students and teachers have to be subjected to. My teaching experience started in Pennsylvania and ended in San Jose. Part of our "teacher training" was to be involved with subject and education organizations. Hence, many years in local, state and national associations. "Reading, Respect and Responsibility" should be the new national slogan for our young future citizens of society. Maybe then students would take pride in themselves, fol- low a career goal, eat healthy, and exercise. Maybe one day all teachers would benefit from four years of training and education, with classroom experience for at least six weeks in junior year and off campus six weeks in a different community. Then all teachers would be comfortable on the first day of school. Marlene H. Greene Retired Picture is The article "San Lorenzo Teachers Declare Impasse" in the October Bargaining Roundup was a big morale booster for our members. I was able to speak to the PTA of the school pictured in the article (below), so I brought a copy for the parents to see. They loved it and started taking cellphone photos of the article. Donna Pinkney President, San Lorenzo Education Association Concussion Awareness Editor's Note: Our October 2013 cover story, "Changing the Concussion Discussion," looked at skyrocketing rates of concussions among student athletes and the rules and procedures to protect against them and respond to students who sustain them. The story still resonates — and young people con- tinue to get concussions, sometimes deadly. One reader's son was luckier: I've saved the cover of that edition, not only on my wall in my classroom, but also as a screensaver on my phone. I tell you this as I honor my son, who at the age of 16 as a junior in high school suffered concurrent concussions playing water polo. Four teammates spent hours asking themselves "What's wrong with Landon?" while he was dazed and concussed. It took three years for him to be as he was before. The impact of the two con- cussions on my son, who was a 3.85 GPA honors math and chemistry student, was devastating. He never finished high school. It's such a tragedy that he lost his high school years. But he's alive, and he could have died, as kids have been doing lately. Now 19, he finally has his life back to pre-concussion. He's finally able to be in school full time at junior college. I am currently working on my master's degree. In a year's time I want to strengthen state Education Code laws for all high school sports and require that ath- letes go through concussion awareness training. It is because my son's teammates commented on his condition for hours aer being concussed that I advocate this stipulation be required for athletes. Thank you, CTA, for looking into and reporting on this topic. I was so glad to see your report. Kai C. Kubota Ventura Unified Education Association Last Chance to Enter! See Me After School Show us what you do aer the last bell rings and you could be a winner. Do you spend your aer-school hours as an ace tutor or coach, a prize-winning salsa dancer, a stalwart volunteer or a café bon vivant? Send up to three photos of you in action to editor@cta.org. Be sure to put "See Me Aer School" in the subject line. Include your name, your chapter and a description of the photos. Enter by Nov. 25. We'll pick three winners based on creativity, photography and interest; each will receive a $50 gi card for school supplies. 3 November 2015