Letter: Math, science scores should rate ac..

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In a letter, "Unfair comparisons," (Forum, Nov. 4), Rudi Kohler of Heber City diminishes the credit that our public schools deserve for their remarkable achievement in recent eighth-grade science and math scores. Utah ranked higher in science in an international comparison than all but five countries. In math, those same students outperformed students in all but 10 countries and provinces.

Kohler said Utah is a "demographically favored state," but he fails to honor our educators for these outstanding test scores in a state that has the largest class sizes and the lowest expenditure per pupil in the nation. If those realities were the comparisons, Utah would fail.

In spite of lack of funding from our Legislature, schools are also improving graduation rates in a state that is becoming more diverse and has more students who are economically disadvantaged.

We should be shouting accolades to our teachers, not questioning demographics.

Bonnie Palmer

Springville

Letter: Math, science scores should rate accolades