To the Editor:

The U.S. ranked 18th in education in 2010 and number 1 in cost. The U.S. was first in the world a few decades ago.

New York ranks 37th out of 50 states in education.

The 18 non-competitive government monopoly central schools in St. Lawrence County are now some of the highest cost per student in the world.

A cost of $25,330.90 per student for 180 days in a year is higher than the per capita income in the county: $19,700.

Canton, $23,666,999; Potsdam, $25,700,000; Massena, $44,700,000; Ogdensburg, $31,800,000; Gouverneur, $30,996,423; Edwards-Knox, $11,712,011; Clifton-Fine, $9,076,310; Morristown, $8,600,000; Madrid-Waddington, $13,478,543; Norwood-Norfolk, $19,200,000; Lisbon, $11,200,000; Parishville-Hopkinton, $9,400,000; St. Lawrence Central, $19,100,000; Heuvelton, $11,538,042; Colton-Pierrepont, $9,385,000; Hammond, $6,524,816; Hermon-DeKalb, $9,092,617. Total: $303,970,752.

A total of 12,000 students, $25,330.90 per student, nearly $14,000 more per student or $168,000,000 above the U.S. average.

In 1980, there were 22,000 students, total spent $86,000,000 or $3,909 per student.

Do you know what ‘outcome-based’ education is?

DeliberateDumbingDown.com, 700 pages written by Charlotte Iserbyt, former senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Education.

George Smith

Norfolk