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Letter: Something is terribly wrong

The release of comparative math scores from students around the world is shocking. The U.S. ranks 31st in the world rankings and the picture is even worse in California.

I guess we should get ready for more education bond measures with the implied message of "just a little more money and we will get it right."

Wrong! The problem is in the home and in the schools. Maybe we should give grades for cell phones and electronic games. We as a community need to figure out that being able to add, subtract, multiply and divide without the aid of a calculator, and basic language skills are building blocks to successful lives. The educational system is obviously broken and we need to quit pouring more money into it.

I see that recently we have deemed that the schools had to have huge theatrical arts facilities costing millions of dollars, at the same time that kids could not serve as cashiers without electronic cash registers to tell them how much change to give a customer for his or her ticket. Something is wrong with that, terribly wrong.

Pat White, Fremont Street, Menlo Park