Last week’s Free Speech from the FCHS faculty member was an interesting one. I only wish that he/she had been willing to sign it as a letter to the editor, but I also understand why he/she did not.

I agree with the writer whole-heartedly. Although I have great respect for the administrators of this county’s schools — they gave me the opportunity to mold lives — the direction our schools, this nation’s schools, have taken is a negative one.

In the present environment, to insure that no child is left behind, teachers now must focus on the mundane and basic elements of their subjects. As last week’s writer noted, critical issues and topics that were once deemed important have been relegated to the trash pile of education.

When we were allowed to focus on themes of depth and relevance, our students succeeded in great numbers. Confident and knowledgeable about our subjects, we held high, not basic, expectations for our students. And they, with few exceptions, responded and learned.

A few years ago, a high-ranking member of the county administration asked his/her child about my methods in the classroom. This student replied, “He brings his passion for the subject to us. And it builds within us.” That was true then. But the changes extinguished the flame of that passion.

Because I was no longer expected to inspire my students, only teach them the rudiments of literature and writing, I retired four to eight years earlier than I planned. I lost the desire to mold lives. A calling that I felt came too late — I started teaching at age 46 — ended too early. And because I am not in the classroom anymore, there is an emptiness that has not been filled.

One last comment. I hope that the FCHS teacher who wrote the Free Speech item will give me a telephone call or an email so that we can talk. His/her identity is safe with me. I’m in the telephone book.

Harry E. Fitch

harryfitch@bellsouth.net

Peachtree City, Ga.