To the editor: I attended elementary, center and highschool within the Los Angeles Unified College District (“New test score labels seek positivity, ditching the term ‘standard not met’ for ‘below basic,’” March 4).
The previous class of “Normal Not Met” is now being changed by “fundamental” and “beneath fundamental” to convey an applicable sense of urgency and to enhance pupil 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 features 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 guardian morale. “If at first you don’t succeed, attempt, attempt 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 “normal almost met” and “normal not met” to the deceptive and marginally opaque “creating” and “minimal” — is a disservice to everybody concerned, significantly college students of shade who make up the overwhelming majority within the non-proficient classes.
Mitch Paradise, Los Angeles
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As a retired trainer, let me recommend a set of higher morale-boosting labels for assessments:
- Finest ever for the reason that starting of time.
- Finest anybody has ever seen.
- Simply excellently magnificent (for the bottom achievers)
- Merely fantastic.
With these labels, the state may reinforce a false actuality in order that nobody could be compelled to acknowledge any want for enchancment. Objective achieved!
Dan Hennessy, Arcadia
