I can see how someone like Steve Juenemann (Public Forum, Nov. 11) could come the conclusion that he did having just read the article in the paper. However, having listened to Cal Thomas' speech, I know that he did actually provide evidence that public education is weak, Juenemann just wasn't there to hear it. Thomas gave facts, not opinions supporting this claim.
He read to the audience an eighth-grade graduation test from 1910 which consisted of questions that very few people could answer today, regardless of age or beliefs. Included on this test were questions about the Bible. Thomas went on to read other items from public schools across the country from many decades ago which also puts our current education system to shame. He also said the school system today worries too much about shielding kids from failure. This is the reason they are trying to do away with the grading system. As Thomas put it, "I always learned far more through failure than I ever did through success."
The point that Cal Thomas was making in his speech is that back when Christianity was the foundation of the public education system, and when the Bible was used in classes, far better results were achieved than today. Also, Mr. Juenemann, it could also be considered elitist to claim that one knows so much about a subject just from reading an article in a newspaper without checking the facts.
David Van Engen
Willmar
