×

Today’s children will suffer

A New York literacy test designed to weed out unqualified teachers, called the Academic Literacy Skills Test, is to be done away with by the New York State Board of Regents as suggested by a task force according to The Associated Press. The reason for eliminating the test is due to the fact that whites predominantly pass the exam at 64 percent, while other minorities such as blacks and latinos, pass the test with a 46 percent and 41 percent success rate respectively. Pace University Professor Leslie Soodak said “Having a white workforce really doesn’t match our student body anymore.”

According to AP, the test consists of questions with multiple choice answers that should easily be passed by a 12th grade student, but prospective teachers, who must be college graduates, fail to get passing grades. Kate Walsh, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, said minorities are scoring lower on the test due to poverty and racism, but their race was what got many of them a higher education in the first place. Today’s children will suffer because social justice advocates place skin color above their education.

Phil Underwood

Montoursville

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today