Educators Need Dose Of Reality; More Suggestions Wanted

With school resuming - and with numerous school board positions up for election this fall in districts around the region - here’s a challenge from William W. Bryant of Spokane:

“Let’s admit that half the students have less than average learning ability and stop pretending that any student can excel if properly motivated.”

Bryant’s comments on education were included in his response to an earlier “Bagpipes” request for readers to identify issues that political candidates haven’t been talking about.

“Let’s acknowledge the bottom 20 percent and the top 20 percent have different needs,” says Bryant. “We - out here - would like to see more reality in the options offered back for consideration. Teachers, staff and faculty seem to be overpaid, no matter how it is presented.”

Your reactions to this outlook, as well as your own suggestions for issues that this fall’s political candidates should start addressing, are invited.

Selected comments will be published in future “Bagpipes” columns.

The beating goes on

Children keep suffering, often dying, because they’re unlucky enough to be placed in circumstances as perilous as they themselves are vulnerable.

Two-and-a-half months ago, 9-year-old Rachel Carver was killed, and an uncle - in whose home she was supposed to find shelter from the abuse she’d experienced previously - has been charged with her murder.

This month, 2-year-old Kory Holbrook died of head injuries. The man who was baby-sitting him has been charged with second-degree murder.

Last week, a judge sentenced David Pelletier to 11 years and four months in prison for throwing his 3-month-old daughter Courtney against a sofa hard enough to cause permanent brain damage.

Last Dec. 14, one week after the Pelletier incident, 2-1/2-month-old Alicia Lee suffered five broken bones when her father squeezed her because she wouldn’t stop crying.

These are a handful of examples of a problem that goes on and on. What about the cases that haven’t hit the courts yet - but will if nothing is done? What can friends, neighbors and family members do to avert another tragedy?

“Bagpipes” is interested in your suggestions. Better yet, attend tonight’s public forum at Shadle Park High School (see the editorial above) and present them in person.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.