Establish order, expectations

My wife and I attended parochial schools in Missoula and Philadelphia.

We had few resources compared to public schools but received a solid education that lead to Ph.D.s and careers in science.

School was a haven of order in a chaotic world. Sensible curriculums yielded seamless transitions from grade to grade to graduation. Our progress to secular colleges was sure.

Students I encountered during my last 10 years at university were completely lost. They didn’t know what good or hard work was. Most graduate students couldn’t even write coherent paragraphs. I credit most of this to the chaotic nature of public education where everybody is A-OK, everybody is a teacher and a student, and everybody passes, regardless of performance.

Andre Agassi created an academy for disadvantaged kids in Las Vegas. It is based on commitments from teachers, parents and students (www.agassiprep.org/ commitment-to-excellence). These go further than anything I experienced but reminded me of my early education.

Money is not the answer to dropouts. There needs to be a common sense revolution in public education that stresses high expectations for all involved. We have voted for every tax increase since coming to Spokane, but I can’t vote for Proposition 1.

David T. Webb

Spokane