Letter to the editor: No reason to laud our public education system

The laudatory statement in Rich Askey’s letter “Thank those who educate our students” (Nov. 17, TribLIVE) was like the captain of the Titanic congratulating his staff and crew on the good job they were doing loading the lifeboats as the ship was sinking. He praises everyone associated with the Pennsylvania public school system except the janitorial staff.

While I lack specific data on Pennsylvania, I have a copy of the latest survey by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges. The report altered my previous suggestion that we go overseas to assess and adopt their educational procedures. What is required is an assessment and adoption of the Canadian public educational system.

Canada ranked third in reading and fifth in both math and science. The U.S. was 14th in reading, 18th in science and 25th in math. This hardly warrants educational accolades. Unfortunately, “woke” was not included.

Surely our educators can now, after decades of failure, change course and emulate success. I recommend that they don their masks and meet with their Canadian counterparts to review Canadian operational methods. Then revamp the failed U.S. public educational system.

The public school area in which the U.S. and Pennsylvania are probably in the top category is teacher and administrator remuneration. If the public school system was a private business, it would be in bankruptcy court.

I do not believe our inept, exorbitant public education system warrants Askey’s accolades.

Jack Bologna

Parks