Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Rewarding Highest Achievers

With all due respect, state Sen. Scott Surovell is looking at the wrong end of the horse (Editorial, “What’s Wrong with This Picture” – Connection, Jan. 24). The admissions to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology should be determined solely based on merit. Gender, ethnicity, race and economic status should be totally ignored.

TJ should provide the most rewarding programs possible to the highest achievers. Senator Surovell should focus on programs to increase the admission scores of African Americans and Latinos. Let's not dilute the potentials of TJ's classes by mandating quotas. The analogy would be to require that a certain percentage of varsity basketball players be white or Asian American, regardless of their abilities. That would be unwise.

David Elmore

Great Falls