Plagman has done a tough job very well

In response to Dick Frederick's guest column (Jan. 9), I offer the opinion of a graduate of this fine school, Washington High School.

Principal Ralph Plagman was the finest school administrator that I ever had. He had an extraordinarily difficult job, seeing to the safety, educational development and well-being of more than 2,000 students, many of whom lived in poverty and suffered numerous adverse conditions. Yet under his guidance and support, more than 100 students every year tested in the top 1 percent of the nation on the Iowa Tests of Educational Development. Washington High School leads the state in Advanced Placement courses offered, the number of students taking the AP tests and the number of students who score a 3 or higher on those tests.

The students who graduate go on to great institutions - the state schools, Oxford, Northwestern and Stanford - and have become great leaders at their schools and in their communities.

Finally, Mr. Plagman was best known among the students for something that Mr. Fredericks may not take much stock in, but that meant a lot to us: he remembered every single student's name by the second trimester of their freshman year. Knowing that he cared is what pushed a lot of us through our tough times, all the way to graduation.

Spencer Walrath

Cedar Falls