The recent concern over the disparity between disciplinary actions for various groups suggests government officials are more concerned about those causing the classroom disruptions than those trying to make the most of school.

It exemplifies the difference between education priorities in this country where the majority of the effort is spent on those in the bottom third of the class while our “competitor nations” spend it on the top third.

It’s this priority that likely explains the fact that K-12 students here rank well down in achievement levels while our universities, which are under no such compulsion, make up 17 of the top 20 in the world.

Bill Hirt, Bellevue