To the editor:

I am a current senior at Lebanon High School who is slightly outraged by the letter written by Barbara Shew which was published in last week's paper. I understand her frustration with the current percentage of students failing Algebra 1, though her quick judgment of Mr. Helland is not at all well-founded in my eyes.

She stated in her letter that she and other parents were frustrated when he told them he did not grade his assignments. Now I, being newly enrolled in his Algebra 2 class this trimester, am well aware that Mr. Helland does not grade his homework assignments but he does go over them in class; asks for all questions students may have; grades if they are complete along with all notes; and gives a homework quiz at the end of every chapter to check what we understand and what we don't. Having already failed one Algebra 2 class over petty things such as getting low grades on my homework assignments everyday, I am relieved to have a teacher who understands that the likelihood of someone magically having a full understanding of something we had been taught just that day is slim to none.

Mr. Helland not only grades in such a way that gives ample time for his students to better comprehend what he is teaching, but he offers his time as well. He offers his own personal time to help students with individual problems well before and after school, during lunch, and even during any free periods a student may have. This gives students with other commitments, such as a job after school, a way to meet with him. Failure to get help from Mr. Helland, or even getting less than a 'C' in his class is more likely from lack of trying and not lack of opportunity. This is called accountability.

I just wanted to say that we should stop pointing fingers at Mr. Helland. He is not at all part of the problem he is one of the solutions.

Sydney Watts

Lebanon