While reading the article "Questions of Validity Surround Teacher Tests" (Feb. 24), I was reminded of a similar issue that arose in my home state of Florida about 10 years ago. All college sophomores were required to take and pass the CLAST test in order to continue on to the college of their chosen major. The test was supposed to be at about a 10th grade level. I honestly feel it was much easier than that, and I went to a mediocre public high school and was a B student in college.

Well, there were many students who failed one or more parts of the test (you can retake it as many times as you need to pass.) There was an outcry of, "It's unfair! It's gender biased! It's race biased! Our future shouldn't be based on one test!"

My feeling at the time was, and still is, if you cannot pass an easy test of basic, general literacy skills, I do not want you receiving a diploma from my University. It would lower the credibility of an education from the University, and that's not fair to those of us who have no problem performing basic math skills and forming complete sentences.

I have not seen the MECT. It may have serious flaws. But the story sounds oddly familiar, and I can't help but feel it may be a similar situation.

Aimee Berger

Feb. 24, 1999

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