Dear Ms. Jordan,
It's come to my attention that you have recently finished your solar system unit. When I asked my daughter to tell me about the various planets she (very predictably) mentioned that Jupiter is the largest, Mercury the "fastest" (by which she meant "has the shortest orbit around the sun"), and Saturn, of course, has rings. When I asked her about Neptune, all she was able to tell me was that Neptune is the "blue planet" and it's named for the God of the Sea. When I pressed her further about Neptune's rings, she told me that Neptune doesn't have rings. Saturn has rings.
And so, because of you, another generation of children pass through fifth grade without knowing that Neptune does, in fact, have rings. No, they are not as famous as Saturn's rings. But they are there. And for someone with your power to completely neglect this is completely unacceptable. There is nothing you can do for this year's class, except have a special lesson completely devoted to Neptune's rings. Perhaps a party. And in the future, perhaps you'll remember to learn more about all the planets, not just the ones with an already iconic status.
Also, Jupiter and Uranus have planetary rings as well.
Yours,
Melanie Wayne Meyers
Letter to a Fifth Grade Teacher From a Concerned Parent Following the Solar System Unit in Science Class
Dear Ms. Jordan,
It's come to my attention that you have recently finished your solar system unit. When I asked my daughter to tell me about the various planets she (very predictably) mentioned that Jupiter is the largest, Mercury the "fastest" (by which she meant "has the shortest orbit around the sun"), and Saturn, of course, has rings. When I asked her about Neptune, all she was able to tell me was that Neptune is the "blue planet" and it's named for the God of the Sea. When I pressed her further about Neptune's rings, she told me that Neptune doesn't have rings. Saturn has rings.
And so, because of you, another generation of children pass through fifth grade without knowing that Neptune does, in fact, have rings. No, they are not as famous as Saturn's rings. But they are there. And for someone with your power to completely neglect this is completely unacceptable. There is nothing you can do for this year's class, except have a special lesson completely devoted to Neptune's rings. Perhaps a party. And in the future, perhaps you'll remember to learn more about all the planets, not just the ones with an already iconic status.
Also, Jupiter and Uranus have planetary rings as well.
Yours,
Melanie Wayne Meyers
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