SCHOOLS: First, get all the facts

I really appreciated Mike Ruskovich’s February 14 My Turn column, “Look Closer at ‘Don't Fail Idaho.’”

Thanks for the research and in depth analysis of data, Mike.

I have been very dubious about the claims of “Don't Fail Idaho” ever since I saw the first commercial. I also was slightly insulted, since I taught school in Idaho for 26 years and worked with conscientious teachers over the years. We saw a good share of high achieving students.

We know statistics can lie. What criteria was used to give Idaho a rank of 48th? Years ago I questioned an educational low ranking for Idaho and discovered it not only included teachers’ salaries, but also whether schools provided hot lunch programs. My siblings and I attended a one-room school and ate cold sandwiches for eight years. It had nothing to do with our academic performance as three of us went on to earn university degrees from U of I.

Education has become a politically charged issue. If we really rank 48th based on academic performance, we need to pay attention and work for better results. To get to an “educated state,” we first need reliable data.

The Albertson Foundation may have some good ideas, but they come across resembling a political advertisement that is repeated over and over until people take it as factual information. To get to an “educated state” we need reliable data. We need to honestly evaluate our strengths and weaknesses.

We want what's best for Idaho students. It will take a respectful dialogue between all stakeholders as we strive for common goals.

VINETTA R. SPENCER

Coeur d'Alene