To the editor:

In reading “A disturbing trend” printed in the April 13 Public Forum, most of the facts are quite true. Being a high school student myself, I do not doubt this trend. Public school has been going downhill for a long time now and continues to do so. Part of this is due to the “No Child Left Behind” policy, that slows the higher-achieving students down to wait for the slower students to catch up. Most of the time in class is left to prepare for the newest “standardized test.”

Slowing students’ learning down is not only detrimental to our future society; it’s unfair. At some point, people must realize that not everyone can contribute to society, and no harm would come by ceasing spending on those students who do not, or will not, contribute to a wonderful future.

Jordan Williams,

Lawrence