I just read in the paper that some parents are complaining about scholastic honor rolls because it makes others, not on the honor roll, feel bad (Jan. 25). The worst thing about that story was that the schools are considering following that convoluted reasoning.

With the introduction of parents, lawyers, social workers, government agencies and politics already muddying up our educational systems and elbowing out the qualified educators, is it any wonder that most of our high school graduates have trouble with eighth-grade spelling? History and science are now elective subjects. Students cannot do simple math, English seems to be a second, strange language, and individual excellence is looked upon as an affront to all the other students.

If you need convincing, try getting the correct change from a clerk when their register is not working. Ask some recent grads to show you where Iraq is on a map, or if you really want to make it hard, ask them to

point out Iowa on the map.

Isn’t it time we let the educators educate? I know that being involved in your child’s education is supposed to be admired, but it has gone a bit too far. As a parent, make sure the home work is done, encourage good marks, recognize every child has different levels of competence and reward effort. Learning is what will carry your child through life, not good feelings.

Dick Rosenberg, Lewiston