Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I read with great delight about a girl in Montana named Kimberly. She has a Doctorate in Business Administration, youngest in world history.

What’s great about Kimberly? Two things: She was homeschooled, and she is only 17 years old. She finished high school at age 12.

Truth is, any child can do this. Every child can do this. Kids who are encouraged and challenged in school will excel in school. Those who are coddled, babied and never pushed to do better will almost always be C-average kids.

What’s pathetic is that our statewide public school system is a disgrace and a sham. So-called “leaders” of the schools only care about what school scores look like on paper, not about making smart kids smarter.

A loser uses excuses for failures and hides behind them, and sadly, it’s mostly losers who are in charge of our education system today. It’s our kids, your kid, that is losing out from a school system that fails them by never pushing them to be their best.

Getting an A should be harder. Tests should require more knowledge. Advanced diplomas should be encouraged.

After all, it’s our future — their futures — on the line.

 

David R. Lyons

Carrollton