A teacher's stance on writing

For this assignment I decided to interview a middle school teacher who I had worked with last term during a practicum course. Teaching is what I plan to do for a career, so I thought it would be best to go straight to the source for this interview.
I asked the teacher, Mrs. C., how writing is important in her filed. She replied, “Writing is empowerment.” According to her, writing is unique (good writing especially) because it is indelible; it has a legacy. When words are put on paper they take on substantial meaning, more so than spoken words can. She described an instance in which a parent at her school wrote a letter to the faculty which described why the school was such an outstanding place. This letter was so well written, so clear, so concise that this parent has become “somewhat of a legend.”
As a teacher, Mrs. C. usually writes to parents as a way to keep them in touch with what’s happening in her classroom. When communicating in this manner it is important, she says, to keep personal and opinionated language out of her writing. She says she has to stick with clear words that accurately illustrate her points. She calls these letters “bridges” between the parents and herself, so they need to be well written in order to work effectively.
Mrs. C. went on to show me the outlines of the grammar instruction she is currently giving her students. I was shocked because it is the same stuff we are learning right now and her students are only sixth graders! I thought it was particularly funny that she had just taught her students about the differences between “lay” and “lie” and this is what our class talked about today! I was very impressed with the level of grammar awareness Mrs. C., and the school in general, has. The students are expected to understand concepts like subject, predicate, sentence types (simple through compound-complex), active/passive voice, semicolon use and many other topics by the sixth grade. This dedication to grammar was very nice to see and I could tell that Mrs. C. was very serious about it.
Overall Mrs. C. feels that writing, both for students and teachers, is a “reflection of who you are.” One’s ability to write clearly and eloquently says a lot about them and their educational background. She considers writing a powerful tool that can be used in really great ways.