Doris Smith

Issues In Education

From private discussions with teachers, students, and parents, I have learned that the focus of teaching in the Lynden School District has been distracted by state-mandated identity politics, equity politics, emotional learning, and increased school administration regulations over how teachers teach, none of which improves discipline, morale, and the spirit of learning in the classroom.

Therefore, it should be no surprise that Lynden Schools are at 39% in math proficiency—much lower than the statewide proficiency of 50%-— and that academically our school district ranks 114 out of 249 ranking positions in the state.  (Source:<https://www.schooldigger.com/go/WA/districtrank.aspx?y=2023>)”

As a school board member, I would focus on three key areas to help change this.

​Parents need to be more involved in education and need to have a greater say in the curriculum. Parental involvement can make a huge difference in a youth’s motivation to learn. I will greatly encourage this.

Second, our young people deserve an adequate academic foundation, and by this I mean a mastery of the basic academic subjects: reading, writing, math, science, history, and civics, rather than the current tendency to overemphasize other distracting issues.


Third, school district residents have a right to know how their taxes for education are being spent. Spending on providing an adequate academic foundation should be the priority.

If elected, I would seek to use my school board position to advocate for the changes that would improve the quality of education in Lynden.

 

Doris@DorisSmithForBetterSchools.com