Derek Boucher

Published online on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009

Age: 42

Occupation: Teacher at Roosevelt High School in Fresno.

Hobbies: Coaching my kids' athletic teams, reading historical autobiographies.

Bee reader since: 1990

How many letters: 30 since 1997.

Favorite topics: Education and literacy.

Why do you write? The No Child Left Behind law forced schools into a very narrow view of reading instruction. This $6 billion mandate has proved ineffective even by the federal government's own assessment. It has created a multimillion-dollar testing industry that has compromised the type of classroom instruction most parents value, critical thinking and inquiry.

Reaction to letters: Most of my colleagues, friends and family affirm my efforts.

Excerpt from recent letter: "We have high-stakes standardized testing to thank for the hours of homework given to our children. ... Homework serves as a way to drill and prep kids for the spring tests. Here's an idea: A two-year moratorium on standardized testing in California. Not only would this save our bankrupt state millions of dollars, it might restore a bit of sanity and family time to the homes of our school-age children."

Topic that doesn't get enough attention: Our children spend more waking hours in school than at home, yet parents have little say about what children learn or how.

Education: Bachelor's in biblical and religious studies (1989), social science (1994), and a master's in reading/language arts (2001), all at Fresno Pacific University.

Family: My wife of 18 years, Renee; three kids: Tatiana, 11; Joshua, 8; and Isabella, 4.

Political philosophy: I was raised with strong conservative principles. However, my wife Renee, my experience at Fresno Pacific and my students have taught me to value the stories and perspective of others.

-- Compiled by Pam Rowse