After attending the annual Teachers Association of Baltimore County Legislative Breakfast on Saturday, I was encouraged by Superintendent Joe Hairston's remarks that he wanted to work collaboratively with all of the interested parties in regards to the Articulated Instruction Module (AIM) program. He mentioned the committee that was being formed to study and streamline AIM. It was obvious that he has heard the views of the students, parents and teachers and will be working to improve the AIM reporting process along with them.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hairston was apparently unable to stay until the end of the breakfast. County Executive Jim Smith spoke enthusiastically about the quality of the county public schools. He told the group that good schools are the product of the excellent professional teachers that we have in Baltimore County and that good schools help to stabilize neighborhoods. He also referred to the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between all parties in the school system. Mr. Hairston also missed the remarks of County Councilman Kevin Kamenetz and TABCO president Cheryl Bost. They like, Mr. Smith, spoke about the importance of the school system in the community and the importance of all parties communicating.

As a teacher who has been distressed by the imposition of additional data collection duties and increased work load, this was a positive step in helping to keep me teaching and planning lessons for my students. I have volunteered to serve on the committee, as I am sure many of my colleagues would be willing to do. As teachers in the schools, our input can be invaluable to the superintendent and his staff regarding things which are most important in improving student achievement. This is, after all, the goal of teachers and administrators as well. I hope that parents can also be included in the process since they can tell us what is helpful for them to know about how their children are progressing in school. Since the Baltimore County PTA Council has already spoken out against AIM, the PTA and teachers need to speak openly with school system representatives. It is important to prioritize what reporting tools teachers need to prepare, and what parents want to see.

I am anxious to participate in a meaningful dialogue about the AIM program. I hope that those who are charged with making the decisions regarding what goes on in the classroom will study what is already going on and use that information to really find ways to improve student achievement and improve our already excellent public school system.

Donna McDonough

The writer is a teacher at Pine Grove Elementary School.

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