Opinion

No ‘October surprise’: state assessment scores tank again

GUEST COLUMN, David Dorsey, Kansas Policy Institute

In this recently published article, I predicted there would be an “October surprise” regarding 2024 state assessment results. I based that prediction on Education Commission Randy Watson’s presentation to the state board during the September meeting. At that time Watson was very upbeat in terms of what the board was doing regarding literacy policy. Since Watson said he was going to present the state assessments in October – tests that were conducted last spring – it seemed logical that the literacy (ELA) scores would show meaningful improvement in 2024. And following his celebratory suggestion from last year that the board dance around the capitol due to better scores in 2023, Watson would be calling for a parade down Jackson Street in Topeka.

I was wrong.

Seeking the best

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

This week I've been thinking about seeking the best, for our children, ourselves, and the nation. That fits with the theme of a few months ago about the upward way - pressing on, moving toward heaven - drawing closer to God. As far as wanting the best for our children, we might look to the father in Luke chapter 15.

America moves toward consensus — Even on abortion

GUEST COLUMN, Dick Morris

You don’t hear the word consensus very often in American politics these days. But as the polls show Donald Trump moving up in these final weeks of the race, a consensus is indeed forming that he should be re-elected, perhaps the first consensus we have seen in a decade.

His upward momentum in the past two weeks is so broad and he is moving up among so many voters that consensus is the only word that describes what is going on.

Someone will have to win, but will the parties be able to work together?

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

As the rhetoric heats up down the stretch of the presidential election, it seems statesmanship simply doesn’t exist.

A completely unscientific measuring stick is the behavior of the candidates right now, and while Donald Trump continues his usual jabs at what he believes to be the inadequacies of Kamala Harris, she has continued down the road of how Trump is dangerous and irrational and has now added fascist to her attacks.

Fall is real on SCCC, and spring enrollment is coming soon

SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett

The older I get, the more surprised I feel when fall comes. In my mind, August was just a few days ago, but the calendar says something different — and the fall semester at Seward County Community College is more than half over.

It’s been a great year so far, as I told the attendees at our most recent Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17. Enrollment numbers are the best in Kansas thanks to a 17 percent increase, and our students are flourishing. That does not mean we are calling the fall semester a wrap, however.