In my 50-year association with education, having read thousands of education articles and published more than 600 myself over that time, NONE HAS BEEN MORE IMPORTANT OR NEEDED than Gail Pletnick’s “Mastering Time or Mastering Standards” (President’s Corner, February 2018).

Beginning with several very fine examples, her column’s main point is well stated: “Redesigning the teaching and learning environment requires us to personalize learning for each child.”

Operating schools LIKE A FACTORY, believing that every child can be standardized to a norm has not and will never provide effective schooling for all children, especially the disadvantaged.

Readers also may be interested in reading Lynn Stoddard’s trailblazing book Educating for Human Greatness, which supports much of what Pletnick states. Both she and Stoddard understand that we have the tools and the knowledge to “personalize the teaching environment” that allows children to learn in congruence with their own special gifts and talents.

Thank you, Gail Pletnick, for expressing wisdom in your one-page column that overshadows the writings of those who continue to support the current system. M. DONALD THOMAS
PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORT GROUP,
SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH


Standards-Based Grading
I was excited to read Matt Townsley’s article (“Mastery-Minded Grading in Secondary Schools“) in your February issue. So much has been written about standards-based grading, but very little is handled in such a concise, palatable form for school administrators.

The practicality of the graphics and suggestions are helpful, especially due to the multiple-year implementation in Solon, Iowa. The resources provided near the end are a rich treasure trove, particularly Townsley’s personal website.

The most important section for me was “Parent Misconceptions.” The gap of using standards-based grading practices, particularly at the high school level, is all-too-real.

As I’m originally from Sioux County, Iowa, I was proud to see Solon featured in this way in a national publication.

THOMAS VAN SOELEN
VAN SOELEN & ASSOCIATES,
ATLANTA, GA.


Meaningful Evaluation
That was an awesome article P.J. Caposey contributed (“The Making of Meaningful Evaluations,” December 2017) on principal and teacher evaluation.

WES OLSON
SUPERINTENDENT,
BOND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
GLENVILLE, ILL.