Readers Call for More Education Options

 

In his commentary, "Education in the Spotlight" (September 16, 2008), U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue called on the nation's leaders to make education a top priority and provided ideas on how to improve our K-12 education system. The story stirred a debate among visitors to www.uschambermagazine.com.

 

"In my humble opinion, tripling what we spend won't fix education. Teachers are poorly prepared by our colleges to teach kids how to read. Until we look at this fact and provide our teachers with quality training in reading methodology, millions of children will drop out, fail, and not be productive members of our society."
-Carole Richards, Chagrin Falls, OH

 

"If we want to improve the education of our children, we have to provide the people who are trained to teach with the incentives to continue to teach-not give them incentives to leave. As Mr. Donohue pointed out, the status quo is unacceptable."
-Ward Critz, Harker Heights, TX

 

"There are many good teachers who are trapped in unions where pay, tenure, and seniority rule, and the quality and content of educating suffer. Putting public education in direct competition with private education through a voucher system is one answer."
-Tom Watson, Ridgefield, CT