I read with great interest Rebekah Schilperoort's article on West Seattle High School's four-period approach to instruction. As an educator with 34 years experience in university, corporate, and foundation educational settings, I need to speak up for the parents expressing their concerns with the four-period schedule.

I live in West Seattle, support the activities of youth going to West Seattle public schools, and know numerous youth going to our schools from my neighborhood. I know these young people well and believe they are not being well-served by the high school's four-period schedule. The original rationale - apparently 13 years old now - for going to a four-period day isn't clear. But the outcomes of this approach do not seem to justify being nonconforming with the rest of the district.

Young people at West Seattle High School have larger class sizes than at other public high schools. Wayne Grytting's comment that West Seattle High School would need to downsize staff and student body and cut up to five teachers in elective classes just doesn't make sense. Right now, students take four courses per day. Most schools have students take six courses per day. I'm curious - how does moving from four to six courses per day "downsize" staff or the student body? Does that mean that the four-period day produces lower WASL scores than the district average and costs more because it requires more teachers?

Perhaps I'm just getting older, but my observation is that for many decades public high schools across the nation offered a rich array of electives in addition to the standard math, writing and reading. A student could truly explore vocational, educational, and career interests by taking electives like auto mechanics, software engineering, music and art appreciation, specialized foreign languages, orchestra, etc. The four X four scheme seems to seriously curtail students' consideration of other options for their future.

What I find most alarming, however, are the WASL data. West Seattle High School's 10th grade WASL pass rates on math, writing, and reading are the lowest in the district when adjusted for poverty. If the four X four approach is so favored by West Seattle High School teachers, why are our students' pass rates lower than for those at high schools with six courses per day?

I would urge Carla Santorno, Seattle Schools chief academic officer, to locate data from around the state on public high schools where students are performing above the norm. Then she needs to take a close look at what those schools are doing right, including what type of class schedule they use.

One other observation. I'm extremely concerned when parents are afraid to speak out publicly, fearing retribution toward their children. Parents, teachers, administrators, and our youth should be working together to find better ways to educate our youth, ways that lead to outcomes reflecting success instead of failure.

Dr. A. Chris Downs

West Seattle