In response to the Aug. 2 article "Corbett Hopes Students Can Leave Failing Schools," let it be noted that this is the not-so-optimistic outcome of the twisted thinking of the current state administration's policy affecting our public school system - namely, the "prized" voucher system, which is designed to denigrate public schools, as in the case of Wright Elementary School in Altoona.
Instead of providing much-needed funding to the public schools that are struggling to keep their heads above water in educating the most disadvantaged segments of our state population, the governor and the current state Senate believe that they should abandon existing programs in the name of school choice and the freedom to choose a better performing school through the voucher system.
Better performing by what standards? The public schools have been bridled with the yoke of required state and federal standards, such as No Child Left Behind, that scrutinize their every move, while the private schools need not adhere to any requirements of performance.
All of the money and efforts that have been poured into the public school system over the years to meet the challenges of educating our disadvantaged youth are now just being thrown out the window in favor of "school choice." Proponents of such a plan should be careful what they wish for as the most needy and ill-prepared children supposedly migrate to the highly touted private system, which has never faced the challenges of the magnitude of our public schools.
Why is the state not supporting our public schools in making on-going improvements to the current system by realistically refining and helping to implement academic standards to meet the needs of our schoolchildren?
Linda Wilson
Duncansville
