Can we sue for inadequate education?

To The Sentinel:

The question has been asked: Assuming an adequate education will soon be defined by the Legislature and become law, will I, as a parent, now have a basis for suing when my child did not receive one?

My perspective of the ultimate result when the definition is in place in law: Once the definition is in place, I think its relevance will be dramatic. The mandate for No Child Left Behind will seem like a piece of cake by comparison.

Responsibility and accountability will take center stage to meet the new standard.

If a child is not given an adequate education, it will be the result of failure of the education process and those involved will be liable.

Results will become critical to the longevity of all educators.

Therefore it will be irrelevant as to what process was used to educate your child.

The age of the books used, the course selection available, the teacher-student ratio, the salary of teachers, the quality of the school board, the size of the classes, the age of the school building, whether kindergarten was available, the number of sports played, the cost per student or the size of the tax rate or the size of the budget ‹ all are totally irrelevant.

The question will be: Can your 4th-grader read, write and add at grade level? Yes or no? If not, someone has broken the law and must pay.

Your school district failed in its mission and the only way you can right the wrong is to send your child to a private school or hire a tutor at district expense to correct their failure.

And it is conceivable that mediocrity will be unacceptable.

Monies from the N.H. Educational Trust Fund will need to go directly to the classroom. No more tax cuts, no more new roads.

Most know that no matter how much money you throw at the education process it typically does not correlate with results.

The educators will have to get to the basics and have no choice. Every single child must know how to read, write and add at the end of 4th grade at grade level. That will undoubtedly become a given of the new law in compliance with the new definition.

The fact that kids have individual needs and to get an adequate education will need their courses tailored to their individual needs will also become a given. For the A student, a talent, their needs for an adequate education may well be in sharp contrast to the needs of the dunces in the class.

There may be no average that is applicable. At some point an adequate education for each student becomes a challenge for the system, not the student. When will a parent sue?

Maybe when they find their child canąt read in the 5th grade?

Maybe when their child is denied entrance to Harvard?

Maybe five years after graduation when their graduate canąt get a job? Obviously the fun just begins once the definition is the law and enforceable by statute like any other law.

It may be expensive but it should work.

Accountability will finally find its place in education. The Claremont case did produce the ultimate and all discussions about taxes are irrelevant.