Re: your May 5 article, “46,700 state students fail to pass high school exam�:
I was saddened to read this article, which reports that 11 percent of our California senior students can’t pass exams for math, through algebra, and English, through about the ninth-grade level. That means these seniors cannot pass tests for entry to the sophomore level. Why, then, are they classified as seniors?
I was dismayed to read later in the article that the Moorpark Unified School District will allow such failing students to participate in graduation and to receive a certificate of completion if they’ve fulfilled all their other requirements. The article quotes a school official as stating, “These kids have completed 13 years of schooling. They’ve done what we asked them to do. We just could not go with absolutely nothing.�
They’ve done what we asked them to do? Really? Some would question whether these kids haven’t been set up for continued failure throughout their lives. They don’t have the most basic education necessary to lead a productive life in today’s world, and they are not being held accountable to get that education. Life will hold them accountable – and they are not prepared.
We’re spending something in the range of $7,000 per year to educate our state’s children in our public schools. Did these kids get our money’s worth?
— Robert E. Paulger, Camarillo
Yes, Mr. Paulger, it is sad that school administrators are more concerned with social programs than academics these days. I hope you aren't planning on voting for Jack O'Connell for State Supt of Schools, are you? He has been personally responsible for encouraging mediocrity to pass for "excellence" with the silly Distinguished School Program. Some of these schools are not even able to hit the state minimum which is 800 API points, or 75%, yet they are "Distinguished". Also, O'Connell gave 6 counties in Southern California waivers to have a crazy bilingual program called the "Promise Initiative". Ventura County now has 2 schools that will teach 90% in Spanish. He is hiring an administrator at $90,000. Crazy! Give him a protest vote of "No Confidence" by withholding your vote and leaving it blank.
Replace Jack O'Connell with Diane Lenning, an educator with 30 years experience. She will dump the social programs in favor of tougher academic standards.
www.DianeLenning.com
Cathy C again: I meant to say that Chuck Weis, our Ventura County Supt of Schools is the one hiring an administrator at $90,000 to oversee 2 schools with his crazy "dual immersion program". He is running unopposed, but don't check the box out of habit. Withhold your precious vote--it is very dear to him. Leave it blank. We will get him replaced 4 years from now, believe me!
In the meantime, do what you can to clean up your liberal school boards and dump your PTAs! 75% of America is PTA free! Read the Feb article in the Wall Street Journal--Losing the P in PTA. It is about the politics of this liberal group that is now an arm of the teachers' unions. The PTA is strong ONLY in Southern California. Show them the door, like Las Virgenes and Oak Park have done. Go with non-political PFAs or PTOs like the rest of America. You'll be glad you did!