Has anyone else been appalled by Oregon’s recommendations to lower education standards and requirements for graduating from high school? The course should be made compulsory, education ministry says, 3 Sept.)

Do you think the Oregon Board of Education is doing anyone any favors by not requiring “students to demonstrate basic proficiency in literacy and math to obtain a diploma”? How will it help young people trying to enter the job market and establish a stable life? How will it help employers and families of those with less meaningful diplomas? How can it help racial students and those who speak English as a second language to thrive in adulthood without having to learn such basic skills? How does that make our society better? How exactly does this achieve justice?

In pursuit of “fairness,” the Oregon School Board reduces students’ chances of a stable and positive future in a complex and competitive world. A better approach would be to add summer school, tutoring, dealing with distractions from learning, and/or teaching students and parents learning skills so that students’ knowledge and competencies can be passed on to responsible adults. To help them learn the skills they need for life. The Board’s recommendations sound like a misplaced priority by a government agency and a desire to make this as easy as possible for teachers and administrators.The well-being and future of Oregon’s children is no longer a priority. not.

Linda Jensen, Salem