To the editor:
My name is Joanne Wheeler. I was music teacher at Wellesley Middle School for eight years, and very much enjoyed my job, teaching kids ukulele, how to write music, and perform it in front of their peers.
My letter to you today comes in the form of four songs I wrote about teaching in Wellesley Public Schools. I recognize this is not a typical letter, but found that words alone could not express what needs to be said, and took some advice from Dolly Parton and wrote some songs.
First is Business Office Blues—a Johnny Cash cover about the tension between the Business Office and teachers; then Picture Perfect Principal, a reimagining of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Modern Major General; a Bo Burnham cover called How Schools Work; and finally a Ben Folds cover titled Dan Lemon, Pt. 2, about contract negotiations.
I want share this letter with the community so that the voices of teachers who cannot speak for themselves due to their employment status can be heard by the parents and taxpayers.
Joanne Wheeler
Former WMS teacher
