I'm disappointed with the Panther Valley Elementary School. It's sad that there are very few men who have the same amount of training as women teachers, who cannot find jobs.

They have the ability to serve as good role models for our young children, who can naturally relate to them, as they project fairness and an interest in their students. I know that my grandson isn't looking forward to going to school if he has a female teacher, so this year's "meet the teacher night" might determine if he has a good school year. If he gets a female teacher who doesn't like him, he won't learn and we'll have to break out material for home schooling.It's no one's fault that many teachers are female, but the school district has an obligation of being sensitive to the needs of our children. You may say that teaching is a female occupation, but so is nursing. How many male nurses do you see? I see a lot.I propose that Panther Valley Elementary hire some badly needed male teachers, since only about 1 percent of their teacher population is male, and they are a much-needed component of reaching children and can actually be an asset to a child's learning.I think that Panther Valley did an injustice to Mr. Kocha, who was needed to make a good impression on the students, but he wasn't hired. Hire him so that he can continue the good work that he started with these kids and save me the job of educating my grandson this year. Change your criteria so that more male teachers would be hired, and your student population will be happier while they learn. Shouldn't our school board practice nondiscrimination in their hiring policy, stop being so "political" in their hiring practices and actually hire men instead of using their best male teachers as substitutes?Faye RuckhardtNesquehoning