Reader critical of Jay Schools

To the editor:

I believe we as a county need to reexamine and reprioritize the education of the county’s students.

According to PublicSchoolReview.com, Jay County Jr./Sr. High School students rank in the bottom 50% of Indiana students and are ranked 982nd out of 1755 Indiana schools. Only 34% of Jay County’s students are proficient in math and 41% are proficient in reading/language arts. 

We must prioritize our future by investing heavily in our students. While this may not be a popular thing to say, sports should take a back burner and we must put education first. 

If we place the utmost importance on education, I believe that not only will our population numbers increase, but employment opportunities will as well. If we create a school system that puts education above all else, parents will move mountains to ensure their children receive the best education possible. And as parents move here for the educational system, they will bring with them employment opportunities.

We have tried everything else: wind farms, solar farms, waste management, a puppy farm, etc. These industries have not created an expansionary environment; only a few have benefited.

In comparison, well-educated students benefit the county as a whole.

Perhaps a public meeting to discuss this further is warranted. 

Jennifer Keller

Pennville