Testing is tool for building better schools

An important component of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) - one that ties accountability into students' actual learning - is the annual testing of all children in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math. This gives both teachers and parents the information they need to determine whether children are learning what they have been taught.

And when a chief state school officer boldly claims, as Nebraska education commissioner Doug Christensen does in "Bush education policy gets states' rights jolt" (Dec. 30), that he has no plans to stand by the NCLB provision that says states must let parents and other taxpayers compare one school with another across the state, he is denying parents the information they need to participate effectively in their children's education.

Such an approach breeds low expectations. And parents have a right to know how their children compare with the highest- and lowest-performing students across the state.

All chief state school officers must keep in mind that assessment and accountability are tools, not sanctions, to be used as we improve teaching and learning for all students.

Christopher T. Cross

Danville, Calif.

The writer is a senior fellow at the Center on Education Policy and a former president of the Maryland State Board of Education.

State has no right to scorn city schools

My stomach turned as I read the article "State officials slam schools over finances" (Jan. 10). The city schools are not "a bottomless pit," as state Sen. George W. Della Jr. was quoted as saying. The education of our young people is an investment in the future of our city, our state and our world.

And Del. Howard P. Rawlings has a lot of gall to call the school system's budget deficit "disgraceful and inexcusable," when the city schools' projected deficit is a tiny fraction of the size of Maryland's projected 2004 budget deficit.

And it is extremely hypocritical for Mr. Rawlings to state that "it doesn't take a rocket scientist" to balance a budget, when the state has done such a lousy job of balancing its own budget.

Thomas V. Quayle

Baltimore

Support for slots seems hypocritical

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has pushed for slots and said his election was a referendum on gambling, but he's trying to block slots in Timonium, where he has lived. Meanwhile, the Senate Republican leader from the Eastern Shore says he'll fight to the death to prevent slots on the Eastern Shore ("Racing industry leaders propose 18,000 slot machines at 5 tracks," Jan. 11).

Yet these leaders seem happy to have slots in Baltimore and Prince George's County, communities that didn't vote for Mr. Ehrlich. This is terribly hypocritical and unjust.

The gangsters who built Las Vegas knew casinos belong in the middle of the desert.

Since Maryland doesn't have any deserts, let's say no to slots and casinos and try to attract good jobs instead.

Jeremy Barron

Baltimore

Slots enrich wealthy as they hurt poor

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s solution to Maryland's budget problem is a slots scheme that would make some fabulously wealthy people fabulously richer and but would impoverish thousands ("Racing industry leaders propose 18,000 slot machines at 5 tracks," Jan. 11) .

It all sounds very Republican. But why would anyone else go for it?

Richard Wilschke

Columbia

Giving Poindexter too much power

Dennis Bernstein's column "Justice twisted in terror fight" (Opinion*Commentary, Jan. 10) was a real gem. Who could believe that retired Adm. John Poindexter, one of the infamous figures in the Iran-contra deal, has resurfaced to head the Pentagon Information Awareness Office?

This appointment gives a man with multiple felony convictions, including on charges of lying to Congress (later overturned on a technicality), power to track anyone he decides is a terrorist threat.

This seems to be another questionable appointment by the Bush administration.

Velva Grebe

Towson

Exempt earnings on savings, too

Has anyone told President Bush that many people do not invest in stocks and bonds ("Bush offers bold tax cuts," Jan. 8)?

If he wants us to feel better about his effort to help the wealthy, he should consider removing the income tax on interest from savings accounts and certificates of deposit.

Beverly Hagy

Chestertown

Tax cut will ruin nation's economy

President Bush's latest tax cut for the rich will ruin the U.S. economy for years ("Bush offers bold tax cuts," Jan. 8).

Two-thirds of the benefits from this budget-busting $674 billion plan will go to the richest 5 percent of Americans. And once again Mr. Bush and his Republican congressional allies are crassly ignoring the real needs of the majority of Americans while rewarding the privileged class with excessive tax breaks that will do little to stimulate the economy.

Meanwhile, the buildup for war in Iraq goes on despite a complete lack of evidence Iraq had anything to do with the terrorists who attacked our country on Sept. 11.

This political war to grab Iraq's oil reserves will be funded by U.S. taxpayers and serve only to further enrich Mr. Bush's oil industry friends when he gives them control of Iraq's oil fields after the war.

Roger Fitzgerald

Hampstead

Alcohol may damage brain as it aids heart

Before we start adding beer and wine to our grocery lists, it may be wise to consider other research findings of the deleterious effects of alcohol on the brain ("Drink a little, often for heart, doctors say," Jan. 9).

If, indeed, the brain can be damaged every time we take a drink, as a recent study suggests ("Younger drinkers risk damaging brain cells," Dec. 10), the reported benefits of alcohol consumption should be presented with a warning.

Mary F. Kollner

Baltimore

Losing another piece of the city's life

I very much enjoyed Scott Calvert's "City Diary" column, "Young busboy learned a lot on the job" (Opinion*Commentary, Jan. 8).

In addition to introducing nouvelle cuisine to Baltimore more than 20 years ago with the Soup Kitchen Ltd., Wayne Brokke was the last original tenant in Harborplace. His gregarious personality will be missed in the harbor and the surrounding communities.

Profits not promises dictate this new urban plastic surgery. Rents continue to rise and the older establishments disappear. We sacrifice authentic entrepreneurs for chain store revenue streams.

We've torn down a stadium and we watch as restaurants close. As each institution disappears like a member of the family, it's important to remember who we are and where we came from.

Dean J. Smith

Baltimore