The Norman Transcript

November 1, 2009

Help children move forward


Editor, The Transcript:

Oklahoma Shame?

Hold on there Vince! Oklahoma Shame? "Oklahoma Shame, by VInce Orza, Norman Transcript, Friday, October 23, 2009." There may be a difference of opinion in these statements made in The Transcript.

Why are we comparing ourselves to a communist country? "Today's economic system is global and China is educating its youth to lead." If proper research is done we will find that China doesn't educate all of it's young people. Matter of fact, if a child doesn't pass the required testing they work in a rice field. They do not have the freedom to choose their profession. We on the other hand have the freedom to educate all of our children, no matter what background, ethnic, economic, or status quo.

As far as your comment on "Baby boomers took a lot more chemistry, physics, algebra, trigonometry, geometry and calculus." I beg to differ. It was only this year that Norman Public School began to require three credits for graduation to include Algebra I, Algebra II, and a choice of Trig, or Calculus. When I graduated from high school 1989, I was able to achieve a diploma with business math and pre-algebra only.

We are fortunate to have programs like the IEP (Individualized Education Program), that help us to identify which students need more help, or have "fallen through the cracks in the system." Rather than gripe about the lack of education, you as a dean of a university should be coming up with solutions to help educate those that are behind.

TED WILKERSON

Moore