Rebuttal

Your editorial regarding test results (“Recent test-score surge shows

promise,” July 8) did not begin to scratch the surface of the problems

with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

First, the object of an education is not to score well on a

standardized test. The standardized test scores should be printed on

toilet paper, so at least they would be useful.

One major reason there is such a big discrepancy in the scores of the

Newport and Costa Mesa portions of the district is that the Newport

students more closely resemble the norm group, which included only 4%

English language learners. And the Newport scores would not be that great

if the schools did not have students from good gene pools.

Instruction in the classrooms has not changed from the days of former

district Supt. John Nicholl. It was outdated then, and it is worse now.

Text materials are old; teaching methods are old; and, with few

exceptions, the board leadership is stale.

Quite frankly, it seems as if the board--and the Daily Pilot--are

interested only in the athletic achievements of the students.

I do not often agree with columnist Steve Smith; he was way off base

on the bond election. But when he pointed out how little we have to cheer

about, particularly for the West Side schools, he was right on target.

Those students and their parents are given short shrift by the board and

the district.

The board should stop worrying about things such as the Ten

Commandments having a place in the classroom, the El Toro airport and

vouchers--and begin encouraging teachers to use a variety of methods and

the best materials available to teach all students.

If teachers teach to the standards, not the test, and include

problem-solving and critical thinking, students won’t have problems with

the Stanford 9. They could deal with it and any other blockades to their

education, even those put up by the board.

JACK PRICE

Newport Beach