[Vision2020] "The wealth of a country is its working people" Theodor Herzel (Letter to the Editor)

[Jerry Weitz]

Latah County Graduation Completion Rates:
Year:       2006   2005   2004   2003
Genesee    96%   95%  100%  100%
Kendrick    94%   88%    93%    86%
Moscow     93%   88%    86%    85%
Potlatch    100%  97%    95%    90%
Troy          100% 100%  100%  100%
Whitepine    94%  86%  100%   95%
State          na      87%    84%   80%

We know that under Virginia's former Govenor Warner, that voc ed (skills 
training) and dual enrollment were greatly enhanced.Virginia's graduation 
rate went to 94.6%.  We also know that the MSD has virtually no voc ed, a 
compacted school year, not enough emphasis on dual enrollment at UI, and an 
unacceptable drop out rate for a College town.  Pullman has a stable 
enrollment, much better graduation rates, quality voc ed, and has students 
enrolled full time at WSU.  Further, there are 15 southeastern Idaho 
districts in which students can complete two years of college from ISU 
before graduating from high school.  MSD does not have anything like 
this.  When the levy passes, Pullman will spend about $400-$700 less per 
student on operations than Moscow.  "Our culture puts a false premium on 
the college degree.  Large numbers of those who are intellectually 
qualified for college also do not yearn for four years of college-level 
courses."  The Wall Street Journal -Jan. 17.07.    The MSD has been less 
than forthright about offering skills training that results in industry 
certification.  It is not about money. It is about MSD's philosophy of 
compacting instructional days, not dealing with a 360 student enrollment 
decline with a total staff reduction of 1.74, not promoting a year or two 
of dual enrollment, and focusing on more staff per student which limits 
curriculum.  Jerry
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