Dear Editor:
Thank you for the articles concerning "skilled worker shortage" (Sept. 2) and "lack of basic education" (Sept. 4). A lot of memories came back while reading these.
Many years ago a group of concerned parents raised the issue with the local school district of "getting back to the basics." At that time, we were mocked. We were thought to be archaic since we were living in the computer age and here we were wanting to return to the basics. At that time, the administration had their sights on delving into other areas.
Based on your articles, it appears public education, as a whole, has learned very little over the years as they continue implementing new things in the hope outcomes will improve. (The newest is "Common Core/Race to the Top".) Obviously, we have some serious problems based on these two articles.
It should not be the responsibility of manufacturing companies to ramp up their skills in the 3 R's as that should have been accomplished in school.
To my chagrin, I have not been giving much attention to public education as our youngest child completed K-12 in private, Christian schools where we did not have these concerns.
The last paragraph of your editorial is true: "A basic education is a foundation for living. Without the power of knowledge, problems and peril loom." All one needs to do is look around at the condition of society and the world at large.