The following letter- to the editor was published on the Editoral page D8 of the Boston Sunday's Globe, (July 30,2006 )

As a 25-year teacher in the Cambridge public schools, I echo many of the concerns that school committee member Patty Nolan penned on July 25. Though I receive form letters of commendation from school administrators, I am among the"effective teachers who feel unappreciated."

I would like to offer some suggestions to address the achievement gap. What if Black and Latino immigrant clergy start playing the role that 19th century faith communities played in helping their populations assimilate into the dominant Anglo Protestant culture? What if churches and schools began dialoguing about working together to teach parents and the community the school culture, expectations, and the curriculum contents which are the core of standardized assessments? What if Black and recent immigrant churches started pre-schools like the Catholic church does? Black and Latino churches, businesses and communities may consider investing more in learning and Saturday educational and cultural programs.

If collectively these churches start teaching their children about the world by bringing them to museums, libraries, and cultural events before their third birthday, I believe the achievement gap and the urban violence we are experiencing could be significantly reduced in future decades.

Nekita Lamour