To the editor: I attended elementary, center and highschool within the Los Angeles Unified Faculty District (“New test score labels seek positivity, ditching the term ‘standard not met’ for ‘below basic,’” March 4).
The outdated class of “Commonplace Not Met” is now being changed by “fundamental” and “beneath fundamental” to convey an applicable sense of urgency and to enhance scholar morale.
Maybe the state Board of Schooling ought to fear much less about labels and extra about how one can really enhance the dismal check scores in studying and math.
Ann C. Hayman, Westwood
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To the editor: Opposite to the minuscule beneficial properties being lauded, the actual story was 67.2% of LAUSD college students weren’t grade proficient in math; 57% weren’t grade-proficient in English; and 76% weren’t in science. All beneath still-dismal state numbers.
Is the state Board of Schooling apprehensive about mass failure? No, it’s apprehensive about mum or dad morale. “If at first you don’t succeed, strive, strive once more,” is an extinct maxim, changed by, “Don’t fear about it, you’re OK; it’s our fault anyway.”
The obsession with utilizing euphemisms within the backside two classes — modified now from “customary almost met” and “customary not met” to the deceptive and marginally opaque “growing” and “minimal” — is a disservice to everybody concerned, notably college students of coloration who make up the overwhelming majority within the non-proficient classes.
Mitch Paradise, Los Angeles
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As a retired instructor, let me recommend a set of higher morale-boosting labels for assessments:
- Finest ever because the starting of time.
- Finest anybody has ever seen.
- Simply excellently magnificent (for the bottom achievers)
- Merely great.
With these labels, the state may reinforce a false actuality in order that nobody could be compelled to acknowledge any want for enchancment. Aim achieved!
Dan Hennessy, Arcadia
