InstaLetters for May 16

It is a shame that parents and teachers don't care enough about their children to take a stand against ALL that is wrong (and abusive) with the government school system.

While we're busy lionizing Doug Ward and his anti-test stance, does anyone ask why pupils are 'incapable' of taking such tests? After a year of classroom instruction, how can a student be incapable of taking a test? And how does a teacher, in good conscience, inflict that next student on the next grade and, ultimately, on society?

There is a lot wrong with education and perhaps an over-reliance on testing. At the same time, the public years back clamored for accountability on the part of schools and the General Assembly responded with something called the ABC system which relied, in large part, on end of grade and end of course tests.

Rather than taking a politically expedient stand, what is Doug Ward's recommendation for implementing a system that measures if teachers are teaching and students are learning so that North Carolina's, and America's, students can demonstrate that they are not falling further behind their counterparts worldwide.

Jim, I was going to defend you but Bruce is beyond rational thinking.