Should mediocrity be encouraged now?

As a retired educator, I am confused and discouraged. I spent 35 years encouraging students to work hard and strive for excellence, to make good grades thinking that that was what was needed to be successful in life.

Now I find that this is highly undesirable.

It makes a person an elitist, which means that one is out of touch with the realities of life. It would disqualify one to be president of the United States of America. It is much more desirable to be an average to below average student if one seeks to be president. That makes a person one of the "people" and more qualified to lead the most power country in the world than a student who wastes time studying to gain knowledge.

This would tend to indicate that the goal of improving our educational system is out of touch with the realities of the real world. We really need to strive for mediocrity so that we produce more individuals who have the qualifications to run for president.

I am quite crestfallen to think that I spent those 35 years encouraging young people to be unsuccessful in life. My life's work was in vain!

Willis Farnham

Hanover Park