Editor, the News-Herald:

I am a first grade teacher for Suffolk Public Schools where I have encountered many different people from many different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. I have witnessed first hand the effects of good parenting, child abuse, wealth, poverty, and now, thanks to the &uot;Raising Achievements and Closing the Gap&uot; symposium as presented by our system, I can now add prejudice and racism.

The article, as presented by Mr. Norman, gave a rosy look at a day where I was left with anything but a rosy feeling. First, let me correct one fact. The symposium was not dealing with boys in general. Instead some sessions and our speaker, Mr. Michael Wynn, focused on African-American boys. Mr. Wynn went as far as to say to the entire staff of Suffolk Public Schools that &uot;black boys&uot; do not need white female teachers, because white female teachers can not relate to the troubles these boys face. I was appalled!

For the first time in my career someone is telling me now that I am to look at my students, not as children, but as colors in my classroom. I am proud of the fact I, can still see children not color. Isn’t that what the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about? A dream where all children can coexist in a society that is blind to color and sees what is important-young minds that need to be shaped and nurtured. Gaps were not closed, and I as a hard working teacher, did not feel appreciated.

Laurie &uot;Elizabeth&uot; Blair

Suffolk