Our Failure to Value Education

The lovely lesson depressingly learned from the style and context of Thompson’s piece is that the educational system produces dare-to-make-a-difference high school students who communicate with clunky cliches and grandiose terminology written in a classroom lacking an adequate lighting system. This student obviously made challenging educational choices and has tried not to settle for the ordinary. Yet, the medium chosen for his richness is an unconvincing tirade that communicates a concern for adult-approved babble rather than conveying meaningful experience in his own words.

Perhaps The Times editors will dare to require the customary journalism standard of excellence in the next choice for contributions from clever 10th graders rather than accept the kiddy crap of a self-styled elitist.

DON R. REYNOLDS

Los Angeles