Many thanks to John Neal for his comments about disruptive students hurting the education process (Jan. 27). I agree with him.

Teachers come to their classrooms to help their students learn what education has to offer. Teachers guide and support those students wanting to learn — they don’t have the time to constantly intervene and redirect inappropriate and often verbally and physically threatening behaviors toward the teacher or other students. T

These students must be escorted from the room, the parents called in for a chat with the principal, and then “Johnnie” needs to have an extended “time-out” at home. Parents usually don’t like the trouble kids being sent home, but do not see what is going on time after time after time when their offspring are acting out in school and causing problems. They must be living on another planet.

I believe many parents feel that bringing up their son or daughter is the number one duty on the top of a teacher’s job description. Wrong. The teachers did not bring these disrespectful, uncommitted, disruptive, and sometimes violent and threatening kids into the world.

Teachers are not slaves — they are highly educated, sincere, respectful, caring individuals who choose one of the hardest professions.

Like John Neal, I am all for ending compulsory education for students in Maine over the age of 14. It will free up many desks for more students. It will free up educators to do what they do best — teach.

Carolyn Libbey, Lewiston