I am a product of the Seattle School District graduating in 1980. I have always had a strong opinion on the need for reform in our national school system.

Why are we basing how the school year and system is set up based upon how we have always done it?

It was set up when kids were needed to work on the farm in the summer so they needed three months off.

Your idea to have children enter the learning environment two years earlier is brilliant (Matt Phelps’ Nov. 12 column, “School reform: Eliminate 11th and 12th grades.”)

Look at what they have done in China. The young kids are encouraged to develop their academic and their art/music skills at a very young age. In many countries, education is a privilege and it is respected instead of something you have to do. It is embarrassing to look at our dropout rate. Maybe that statistic alone is reason to look at your idea.

Lake Washington School District had a pilot program about 10-15 years ago where students would be offered a choice at age 16 to continue on academically or to move into a vocational program. I have never heard what happened but always thought this was a great idea.

Just wanted to thank you for encouraging people in our community to think outside the box and move into the 21st Century. As Herbert Hoover says, “Children are the World’s Greatest Natural Resource.”

Anne Alberg, Redmond