• Stop pointing fingers

I’m not usually one to complain, however, the “Our Opinion” column printed in the Friday, Aug. 8 was unnerving to me.

The pointing of fingers needs to stop concerning AYP in public schools. For those unfamiliar with the educational system, we have numerous odds stacked against us. New Georgia Performance Standards have replaced the old QCC’s. Let me add that legislators far removed from the classroom mandated these standards.

I take offense to the author's comment "let’s not forget these are the same students that reached the necessary standards in previous years.” Although these students may have met previous standards, we are comparing apples to oranges. The tests have changed. We are pushing our students like never before to not only meet state standards, but now to exceed them. As educators, we are reinventing the wheel, once again, in order to ensure students meet these new higher expectations.

I agree with the author in that educators need to step up; what the author failed to realize is that we are stepping up to the challenge. Perhaps we would fare much better if the community band together rather than pointing accusing fingers at one another?

Leigh Moore

Special Education Teacher

Cook County Schools

Adel

• Setting kids up for failure