Any educational article that one reads as a future educator during his or her college years will be beneficial in the overall scheme of things.  The more knowledge that one can attain from those who have already been in the teaching field can only help a future teacher that needs as much information under his or her belt that can be attained.  This article immediately drew me in due to the fact that it focused on high school educators and I too plan to become an English teacher. 

While reading the article, “To High School English Teachers (and All Teachers),” there was one quote in particular that stood out to me.  The quote from the article reads: “Begin with and remain true to authentic literacy, and then comply with standards and testing mandates within that greater commitment.”  This statement great lengths in terms of what is at the very core of English education.  If students are not proficient or grounded in their reading and writing, this will only hurt their performance in higher stakes of their English class later on in the course.  While testing and meeting performance guidelines for students is very important for English teachers, it is even more important for us to connect with our students.  By connecting with students, teachers are trying to make students both aware and eager about the importance of good reading and writing. 

Personally, I believe that a good way to teach this type of literacy is through give and take in a classroom setting.  Set the foundation of literacy by teaching students what they need to read and guidelines for writing but also let them respond and listen to feedback when it comes to these things.  Listen to what students like and dislike to not only reach that personal connection but better one’s teaching approach when it comes to literacy.  As the article states that this approach is not to ignore the bureaucracy, this is not to convey teacher ignorance but putting what is the most important first and that is the students.  The very core of English is reading and writing and students must fully understand and be literate in both.  Literacy and language are extremely powerful outside of the English world alone.  However, this is not to forget about “standards and testing mandates” as the article states, because that is the second big part of the commitment English teachers have as educators.  Literacy proficiency will only make the students’ testing scores and meeting of standards improve and give students a greater understanding of the English language as a young and free-thinking individual.