H.W. Assignment Talks About Teachers Not Being Paid Enough

Homework has often been the bane of the average kid's existence. But for one particular assignment, its the parents who aren't too thrilled.

It was a reading comprehension exercise given out in February to 5th graders at Penn Valley Elementary School.

The exercise was a letter written by a fictional 8th grader arguing that teachers aren’t being paid enough for the job that they do. The letter was assigned in the midst of a bitter battle between teachers and the Pennsbury School District over contracts.

One of the questions asked students to identify the initials for the National Education Association, the teacher’s union.

Mike Giosa, the father of one of the students who received the assignment, called the school’s principal to voice his concern.

“I understand they do an important job and they want to be fairly compensated,” said Giosa.

“But it has no place in class.”

Giosa also claims that the teachers have been trying to influence the kids even before giving out the assignment.

“Just a couple weeks ago they started wearing ‘let’s talk’ pins to the classroom,” said Giosa.

“Not only that, she {his daughter} was exposed to the pins with the date listing the expiration of the contracts last summer before she left the 4th grade. It’s been an ongoing thing.”

District Officials won’t say which teacher handed out the assignment. They told NBC10 however that the letter came from a booklet of lessons based on articles that appear in the “Time for Kids” magazine.

The District also released the following statement.

Teachers are given latitude to make instructional supplementary material decisions. And they are expected to use good professional judgment when selecting those materials.

The district is currently investigating whether good judgment was actually used in this case.

While many parents believe that the homework assignment was in bad taste, they still remain supportive of the teachers.

“Our teachers go above and beyond,” said Amber Santos, a parent of one of the students.
 

“They’re wonderful.”