Everyone should be appalled by students’ reading skills

I was appalled to read the article regarding reading and math proficiency in Manatee schools.

I recently moved here from Mississippi, which many regard as one of the more “backward” states in the union. However, students in the southern/coastal areas of the state have demonstrated a much higher skill level in those areas on the standardized national test, usually in the 80 to 90 percentile satisfactory performance level.

I find it hard to believe that anyone in the school district — educators, legislators or parents — is satisfied with almost half of Manatee children not being able to read at their respective grade levels. But no one seems surprised or upset! I do not place the responsibility or “blame” totally on the school system, as parents must shoulder part of this disgrace. Reading/comprehension of the written word is the single greatest skill children need to grow into intelligent adults who add to the community. Shame on these results.

This story was originally published June 14, 2017 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Everyone should be appalled by students’ reading skills."