CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In a recent commentary, "Our schools are among best in U.S." (Aug. 22), the new president of the West Virginia Education Association suggested that our school system really is among the best.

Regrettably, that just isn't true.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, measurable outcomes such as graduation rates, college attendance and adult education levels indicate we're average in some areas but far worse in others.

In an August report, West Virginia's graduation rate was 76.9 percent, which is slightly better than the dismal national average of 73.4 percent.

The nation's average "event" drop-out rate for the same period was 4.0 while West Virginia's was 3.9, reflecting further mediocrity, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Lest anyone take comfort in average U.S. performance, another federal Department of Education report, "The Condition of Education 2008 in Brief," found that "average U.S. science literacy was below the average of the 30 OECD [or industrialized] countries."

"U.S. students scored lower than students in 16 OECD countries and [statistically] higher than students in [just] 5 OECD countries," according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The importance of science literacy is that it serves as a de facto measurement of workforce readiness.

Yet another federal education report found that West Virginia was dead last with the fewest number of college graduates at 10.2 percent, while the national average was 17.2 percent.

For those with graduate or professional degrees, West Virginia ranked 46th with only 6.8 percent of West Virginians achieving post-baccalaureate success.

Regrettably, the WVEA president cited not one measurable outcome to support the claim that "West Virginia's schools are among the best in the nation."

Instead, anecdotal stories about how the "rigor of the curriculum has intensified" are offered in place of real performance measures. 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In a recent commentary, "Our schools are among best in U.S." (Aug. 22), the new president of the West Virginia Education Association suggested that our school system really is among the best.

Regrettably, that just isn't true.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, measurable outcomes such as graduation rates, college attendance and adult education levels indicate we're average in some areas but far worse in others.

In an August report, West Virginia's graduation rate was 76.9 percent, which is slightly better than the dismal national average of 73.4 percent.

The nation's average "event" drop-out rate for the same period was 4.0 while West Virginia's was 3.9, reflecting further mediocrity, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Lest anyone take comfort in average U.S. performance, another federal Department of Education report, "The Condition of Education 2008 in Brief," found that "average U.S. science literacy was below the average of the 30 OECD [or industrialized] countries."

"U.S. students scored lower than students in 16 OECD countries and [statistically] higher than students in [just] 5 OECD countries," according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The importance of science literacy is that it serves as a de facto measurement of workforce readiness.

Yet another federal education report found that West Virginia was dead last with the fewest number of college graduates at 10.2 percent, while the national average was 17.2 percent.

For those with graduate or professional degrees, West Virginia ranked 46th with only 6.8 percent of West Virginians achieving post-baccalaureate success.

Regrettably, the WVEA president cited not one measurable outcome to support the claim that "West Virginia's schools are among the best in the nation."

Instead, anecdotal stories about how the "rigor of the curriculum has intensified" are offered in place of real performance measures. 

But let's face it, the WVEA membership doesn't elect a president to discuss meaningful success rates. 

They know that given enough blue ribbon ceremonies and the occasional designation of yet another school of excellence that eyewash can replace accountability in the public's mind.

Somehow they have achieved a privileged legal status that allows them to circumvent the federal Hatch Act that prohibits other public employees' direct participation in partisan elections.

Together with their special interest lobby they leverage their undue influence, especially when they threaten to go on strike.

And it's always for one thing and one thing only - more money. 

Wouldn't it be nice if the WVEA just once threatened to walk out for something else - like educational attainment? 

Just imagine them finding passion for year-round school for example.

Or how about eliminating monthly faculty senate days where there is no instruction whatsoever?

Perhaps they could lobby to do away with scheduled early dismissal days in favor of early dismissal for just bad weather?

How about a compromise where performance measures are used to reward those teachers and schools whose students' test scores actually improve rather than across-the-board increases?

But until that day, those in favor of putting our children's education before the narrow special interests of the WVEA should view their endorsed candidates with a jaundiced eye this November.

Swint is a parent of two children in the Kanawha County public school system and a commercial real estate broker in Charleston.