THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9508170015
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Your headline in the MetroNews section of The Virginian-Pilot on July 28, ``6th Graders flub basics test'' and ``After five years, students in this grade level aren't doing any better,'' did not surprise me one bit.
Looking at the sample quesitons from the Literacy Passport test on the same page explains the reason. Sixth graders are in the 11-to-13 age group at the very minimum. To add 2 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 6 inches should be solved immediately without the benefit of multiple choice, which in my opinion is the bete noir of education in our country (namely opting for the easier way out for student and examiner or teacher.) In a multiple-choice question, 25 percent is left to chance for a correct answer and the student may score without knowing a thing.
I am sure most dedicated teachers in the field bemoan the fact that students are not learning and hopefully those entrusted with education will take the necessary steps to ensure that both student and teacher are challenged rather than retreat to the easy way out of what now seems prevalent, the multiple choice question.
THE REV. CARL De SOUZA
Pastor, St. Jude Catholic Church
Franklin, July 29, 1995 by CNB