Letter writer of the week on KC Public Schools

Southwest High plan

Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Steve Green has made Herculean efforts to keep and re-establish quality community schools. However, the move to blend Academie Lafayette with Southwest High is a superficial attempt to improve test scores. That move might please Jefferson City, but it will not add educational value to the district.

Schools are often blamed for social and economic failures that politicians and financial institutions create.

I suspect the schools are serving their communities very well.

The variable of poverty is never factored into the district’s test results.

Southwest’s academic profile would look very different if all factors were considered. Kansas City Public Schools should continue their best efforts to serve the students they have and forget the fleeting state approval that may come with the inclusion, or intrusion, of Academie LaFayette.

Helen Johnson, of Lee’s Summit, is a retired teacher.

She taught in urban, suburban and rural public schools and in church-supported schools for 35 years.

This story was originally published July 20, 2014 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Letter writer of the week on KC Public Schools."