Schools and school teachers have been in the spotlight this weekduring American Education Week.

Most of us can probably name a teacher or two who have beengreat influences in our lives. I’ve written about some of mine inthe past, and I think about them quite often. One, Mrs. RaymondWilson, who taught everything from English to chemistry at DuckHill, recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She retired fromteaching a long time ago. Now she writes a newspaper column forThe Winona Times detailing the community news fromAlva.

I’ve had the opportunity through the Big Brothers/Big SistersMentoring program to spend some time in recent weeks visitingLipsey Middle School. I’ve been impressed by everything there –the teachers, the staff, the facilities and the students.

I even enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria. My “little sister” didn’tbelieve me when I told her the $2.25 I paid for lunch that daywould have bought two weeks worth of my lunches when I was astudent at Duck Hill.

For many years Mississippi schools trailed others in the nationin many areas. According to information from the National EducationAssociation, there is good news about our schools:

* The proportion of Mississippi public school 4th graders whoscored at the highest two levels in math increased by 50% between1992 and 2000.

* The proportion of 8th graders who scored at the highest twolevels in math increased by 33% between 1992 and 2000.

* The proportion of Mississippi public school 8th graders whoscored at the highest two levels of in science increased by 25%between 1996 and 2000.

* The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Educationranks Mississippi as the best – 1st out of 50 states – inproportion of high school students taking an upper-level sciencecourse.

* Mississippi students rank among the top 5 states on theirphysics Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores.

* Since 1994, the proportion of Mississippi graduating seniorstaking the ACT college entrance examinations has increased by16%.

* The number of Mississippi teachers being honored withcertification from the prestigious National Board of ProfessionalTeaching Standards has more than tripled since 1999.

* Mississippi ranks 2nd out of the 50 states in the proportionof public school teachers who have received certification from theprestigious National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

* There is one computer available for instruction for every 6.1public school students in Mississippi.

* The Fordham Foundation gave Mississippi the highest possiblegrade for having high standards for students in math.

Not all of the news is good, though. The NEA also lists somechallenges for our schools:

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Public education spending per pupil has declined. Mississippiranks near the very bottom of all states – 49th out of 50 – in perpupil spending on public education.

* Parents in Mississippi need to be more involved in theirchildren’s education. In Mississippi, just 62% of 4th grade parentsand just 35% of 8th grade parents participate in parent-teacherconferences. That’s one of the lowest levels of participation inthe country.

* Mississippi school buildings need major improvements.Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Mississippi schools have a buildingthat needs extensive repair or should be replaced.

* Demand for teachers in Mississippi is high, and the supply islow. Mississippi ranks among the highest states (5th out of 50) inthe percentage of secondary schools (23%) reporting difficulty infilling vacancies in math. Mississippi ranks among the higheststates (2nd out of 50) in the percentage of secondary schools (24%)reporting difficulty in filling vacancies in biology. Mississippiranks among the highest states (3rd out of 50) in the percentage ofelementary schools (17%) reporting difficulty in fillingvacancies.

Mississippi still has some catching up to do, but we’ve come along way in recent years.

Good schools are the backbone of a strong community, and ourcommunity is blessed to have some of the best.

Thank you, dear teachers.

Write to Nanette Laster at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, Miss.39602, or send e-mail to news@dailyleader.com.