I have thought long and hard about posting this letter in fear of the criticism I may receive, but my silence will be heard.

I am writing because one of us needs to speak on behalf of children who actually have good behavior in school. I am very proud of my children that my husband and I have raised. I am not saying they are perfect, but for the most part, I feel they are well-behaved.

I find that all the schools have their own issues with discipline. Although the one thing I find they have in common is when a few students misbehave, most of the time, all the kids pay the price. Ask yourself from a child’s point of view, “What is the point of doing good if I will be punished anyway?”

On another note, the children with constant misbehavior get a lot of attention for misbehaving. Why? Most times this works for those children to their favor. Why are the children misbehaving being let “off the hook?” I guess being a parent it is easy to just give in because the fight is gone after long days at work and you are just too tired.

I feel like the teachers and staff feel the same at times and I do not blame them, but what favors are we doing our children by just giving in? Are they not worth the fight? Isn’t it our No. 1 job as parents?

Parents, wake up! Be a parent and help teachers only be teachers. They are not there to be parents. Discipline must begin at home and guess what, if you are tired of doing it how do you think the teachers and staff feel?

Do your children a favor and help them be the best they can be. They will appreciate the discipline in the long run. I know I have.

Kristi Pierce

Vicksburg