Why athletes, music students fall behind

I worked for Fresno Unified School District for 17 years, and I don't understand why there are more than 25 students in a classroom.

You need to be able to focus on each student to achieve those good grades the district is always complaining about. These teachers work over and above to try to make sure that each student gets equal time. Watching a student fall through the cracks because you could not get to them is hard. Teachers have been fighting for this for as far back as I can remember.

It’s not that you don't have enough teachers. There are many waiting to be hired. The district takes students out of class for music and sports, which disrupt the studies. Usually it is this group of children who are falling behind. Yes, we need music and sports but, I remember when this was an after-school activity.

I don't feel that teachers get enough credit for the work that they do. Do you know many of them work on weekends, and sometimes/most of the time until late during the week?

Let’s get together and stand behind our teachers.

This story was originally published November 14, 2017 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Why athletes, music students fall behind."