Unfettered Letters

‘Book’s lessons’

“Students embody book’s lessons” (3/28, A-1) was a great article. I am glad to see that the hard-working students, staff and administration at Southeast High School are getting recognition for their efforts.

As graduate of Howard University, it is good to know that teachers in the Kansas City School District are encouraging our students to strive for admittance to competitive historically black colleges and universities, such as Howard, Hampton and Morehouse.

The rest of the country will be very impressed with Kansas City’s young people.

Michael M. Byrd
Former member, Kansas City Board of Education
Howard University, Class of 1980
Kansas City

Access to college

I have just returned from Washington with a delegation from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Our 20,000 members are counseling and admissions professionals dedicated to helping students make a successful transition from high school to college.

The Bush administration’s 2007 budget would devastate programs devoted to providing access to college information and counseling. Nearly $800 million in federal aid would be eliminated. Entire programs would end.

In addition, Pell Grants, a significant source of financial aid, have been flat-funded for several years, while inflation and the cost of college increase.

The federal government continues to mandate major changes in our schools without providing funds to accomplish the task. Educators are rarely part of the administration’s decision-making team. Asking students to do more with less will not cure the maladies of our educational system.

The future of our country depends on lifting students up so that they can be productive citizens. If we do not provide students with the means to do this, we will not only lose our place as the most highly educated, forward-thinking country in the world, we will lose our soul.

Joan Jacobson
Overland Park

Education alternatives

Denene Brox (12/30, As I See It) criticized the University of Kansas’ proposal to raise admission standards. She said higher standards would prevent many minority and low-income students from getting a higher education.

The outlook for disadvantaged students is not so grim, however. The Kansas City region is home to three major community colleges — Metropolitan on the Missouri side, and Johnson County and Kansas City Kansas on the Kansas side. These colleges have open admissions.

They cost much less to attend than universities, and needy students can get much more personalized attention from faculty and staff.

If a student succeeds after two years at these institutions, she or he can move on to a university with confidence and proof of being able to compete at the college level.

Steven Lewis
Roeland Park