Letters & Opinions

We are dedicating this page to parents, students, businesses, and educators regarding comments, personal challenges, concerns, and opinions.

We invite you to send us your comments.  (Please let us know if you wish to submit your comments anonymously.)

Terry Bergeson misleads public in voters’ pamphlet.

She states,“WA leads the nation … with .. rigorous academic standards .." Fact: In 2006 Fordham Foundation ranked WA 42^nd.  Bergeson so thoroughly resisted the legislative mandate to improve math standards the legislature gave oversight to the State Board of Education.

Bergeson: "More than 91% of the Class of 2008 met new graduation requirements …"  Fact: OSPI shows roughly 29% of the 2008 class dropped-out.  Only approximately 63% of the 2008 class met graduation requirements.

Bergeson: "WA leads the nation in SAT scores."  Fact: College Board data shows about 40% of the states having better scores than WA. 

Bergeson: "Academic achievement for students in all ethnic groups has improved significantly."   Fact: The gap in math WASL scores between blacks and whites grew 5.2% in eight years.  SAT scores have been essentially flat for ten years.

Bergeson: "More career and technical opportunities are available."  Fact: Students are LESS able to get technical jobs.  Roughly 50% of tenth graders pass the math WASL.  Math remediation at community colleges statewide is about 50%.

Teachers’ unions statewide have given Bergeson a vote of no confidence.  They, and the WEA, endorse Randy Dorn for OSPI.  Bergeson is accountable to no one.  The above facts are public record.  Vote for Dorn to restore integrity and accountability to public education.

Dick Padrick

Sharon Peaslee

Dear Friends and Family,

 Anyone interested in improving public education in WA has a chance to do so by voting for Randy Dorn for Superintendent of Public Instruction.  He's now running against Terry Bergeson, who has held the office for 12 years.

 We need Randy Dorn for  Superintendent of Public Instruction.  He is calling for changes parents have demanded for years, while Terry Bergeson continues to promote her disastrous agenda, freely distorting data and facts.  More on this in a later posting.

 Bergeson disconnected WA schools from the national mainstream. She crafted the math WASL to drive a reform math methodology that defies logic and research.  Then she eliminated the Iowa Basic Skills Test. The ITBS tests  math skills Bergeson nixed, and measures WA students against all others nationally. Her reform math agenda failed to improve ITBS scores. So she cut the test in favor of the WASL. But even the WASL has shown her plan to be a disaster.  The majority of students can't pass it, even though curricula statewide have been aligned to it.  And these curricula are not teaching students how to do the real math required for many degrees and careers.  As a result, most students must take remedial courses in college or dumb down their aspirations.

 Bergeson has repeatedly ignored the outcry of parents. Teacher unions statewide have voted no-confidence in her. Legislators required that Bergeson improve math standards. She resisted the process so thoroughly the legislature handed it over to the State Board of Education.

 Randy Dorn will realign WA schools with rising national standards.  He is a pragmatic leader who listens closely to parents, teachers and experts.   He will take our public schools where we, the public want them to go.  Randy Dorn will work with us to be sure our children get the education we want for them.  Please vote for him in the upcoming primary and general elections and pass this email on to others.

Thank you,

Sharon Peaslee

The Truth About Math Remediation at the UW, anonymous, April 4 2008

Irreverent Commentary on the State of Education in America Today, Dr. Mark H. Shapiro

Fuzzy WASL math is failing our kids, Senator Val Stevens (R-Arlington) representing the 39th legislative district, January 19, 2008