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Sunday, February 08, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Education editorial mixes nepotism apples with SAT oranges &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I feel your editorial ``For starters, more folks aware of nepotism's
evils'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Jan. 25) merits some comment. While your premise is good- nepotism should
have no place in deciding who should teach our children- you really went off
the track when you linked it to Scholastic Aptitude Test scoresThat school
board members' relatives may not be hired to teach in Kansas or Oklahoma
really has very little, if anything at all, to do with SAT scores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What you should have looked at was statistics on just which students take
the SATs in those states. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The reality is this: In Pennsylvania upwards of 73 percent of all high
school students take SATs. That includes students planning to attend college,
students headed for technical and trade schools, students who think they might
want to go to school someday, special education students. In short, anyone who
wants to is encouraged to take SATs in Pennsylvania. In fact, more students in
Pennsylvania take these tests that almost any other of the 50 states. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's a statistic we should be proud of. That says that our teachers are
doing just what they should be doing- encouraging our young people to see
their futures as limitless possibilities. It's telling them that they can
strive to be anything they want to. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now who takes the SATs in Oklahoma and Kansas? I think that if you'll do
your homework, you'll find out that the only students taking the SATs are
those who are trying to get into eastern schools. Most other students will
probably be taking the American College Tests. I doubt very much that you'll
find that 73 percent of all Oklahoma high school students take SATs. In fact,
I think you'll find that only about 9 percent take them. In other words, only
the cream of the crop are taking SATs in these states. Even The College Board,
the tests' administrator, specifically warns against comparing average state
scores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, if you persist in your desire to make comparisons, at least try to
make them valid. Do a little research. Check with The College Board to find
out how the SAT scores of Pennsylvania students applying to, let's say
Harvard, compare to their count erparts in other states. Perhaps you could ask
for information comparing the top 5 percent of students' scores across the
nation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then your numbers might mean something. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In any case, having read your edit

Education Editorial Mixes Nepotism Apples With Sat Oranges 
I Feel Your Editorial ``for Starters, More Folks Aware Of Nepotism's Evils'' 
(jan. 25) Merits Some Comment. While Your Premise Is Good- Nepotism Should 
Have No Place In Deciding Who Should Teach Our Children- You Really Went Off 
The Track When You Linked It To Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores.