Mailbag

Passing everything but exit test is unfair

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman raises some good points about the rationale against the present school exit exam ("Exit Exam fails first test," May 13-14).

If students have completed all graduation requirements, why can't they then graduate? One test that encompasses years of schooling to show that you qualify for graduation is mind-boggling. As I recall my school years, teachers would give tests during the semester to see whether we had learned our subject matter. After going through years of schooling, passing your subjects and then flunking a general test, not allowing you to graduate, isn't fair.

If there are problems with sub-par teachers and resources, correct them. That would be worth a demonstration by parents of a school. Let's have some meetings with parents for them to get motivated to help their children.

What about "teaching to the test?" Is that a genuine learning experience?

Charter schools were created to improve the educational system. Let's encourage them to live up to their potential higher standards.

WESLEY GREENE

Burbank

Limited focus not worth tax money

I'm afraid the Armenian Relief Society's efforts are not focused on the community as a whole but only on a special segment of the community ("Council distributes finding to groups," April 29). Our tax money should not support the group. Councilman Dave Golonski has the right idea. If the Armenian Americans don't want to get in line with the other poor people of different cultures and languages and want their own line, the Armenian Relief Society should pay for it and not expect the rest of us to help. For me to argue otherwise would be disingenuous.

LEE BRANDT

Burbank

Choices in city's priorities are baffling