Program's goals are impossible to meet

In a July 10, 2005, article, the state reading goals for next year were published — 75 percent of second graders and 85 percent of third graders will be expected to read "at grade level." This is a statement of goals which are impossible to attain. "Grade level" performance in any subject was determined long ago by what 50 percent of children ("the average child") can be expected to achieve in any subject at any grade. We also have statistics on what the "average height" of children is expected to be at each grade level.

To expect that any more than 50 percent of second and third grade children will be reading "at grade level" next year is as much a fantasy as expecting that 75 to 85 percent of them will show up for school "taller than average." And any test designed to show that more than 50 percent of children in a large school district are performing "at grade level" in any subject is nothing more than a statistical sham. Maybe it's time for the state of Idaho to summon up the courage to do what the state of Utah did — tell the federal government that "No Child Left Behind" is a politically motivated statement of educational goals which are impossible to achieve.

JACK GALLAGHER

Cocolalla