Letter: Academic highs worth cheering

I was astonished to read editor Phil Pfuehler’s recent article highlighting the most recent ACT scores from the River Falls High School.

Although the comprehensive scores are slightly lower than last year’s scores, the results are still significantly above statewide norms.

Ultimately more impressive, however, is the high percentage of students who take the test, many more than the statewide average. And the average score of students across Wisconsin ranks No. 3 in the country.

This is an accomplishment for which we, as a community, should be justly proud. Proud of our students and their families who have worked and sacrificed to achieve these scores, and proud of our teachers and schools who have provided educational opportunities, teaching and learning experiences, sufficient to produce such excellence.

We all feel good when the hometown teams win the big game, be it the Fighting Fish, high school gymnastics or Super Bowl Packers. Those victories are glorious in their drama, and represent multiple accomplishments of individuals working cooperatively for common purpose.

As we begin a new year in the public schools, can we put aside the acrimony of partisan politics and support the students, teachers, administrators and support staff of our schools as they, too, work for the common purpose for which we all aspire?

Tags: opinion, letters, education