THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606140011
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 22 lines
Regarding ``Mastering basic skills'' (editorial, June 6): It boggles my mind that everyone, including your editorial staff, seems to be turning handsprings for joy because fewer than 10 South Hampton Roads seniors failed a sixth-grade-level test in the three R's. Moreover, the editorial congratulated the teachers for helping the students master the basic skills.
It appears that someone is not doing his job or that something is drastically wrong in our school system if a student can attain the 12th grade having never passed a sixth-grade test.
When I attended school, if one couldn't pass an end-of-year exam, be it third, sixth, eighth or 12th, one wasn't advanced to the next grade until he could pass, even if it hurt his feelings.
What happened?
RAY WILEY
Norfolk, June 6, 1996 by CNB