The Issue: Whether a challenging global-history Regents exam should be made optional.
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Your editorial about the New York Regents exam on global history was sad but true (“Standards Shell Game,” April 24).
Because there are not enough students passing the test, the Board of Regents wants to lower the bar rather than improve education.
In today’s global economy, it’s important to know the history of other countries.
It may not be as exciting as video games or texting, but there is much to be learned from the past.
Life is not easy, and by making our education process easier we are not preparing our children for real life.
Tom Lienhard
Westfield, NJ
So some members of the state Board of Regents think removing the “too difficult” exam in global history is a good idea.
Will that same board be there for those young men and women when they need to compete in the global job market?
Of course not.
But in five years they will ask taxpayers to fund a study to determine why these kids can’t find jobs or finish college.Gary Cella
Cos Cob, Conn.
The Post upbraided State Education Commissioner John King and the Board of Regents for relaxing standards, based on a proposal to add some flexibility to Regents exam requirements.
The business community lauds your support for high standards, but we disagree with the criticism of King.
His purpose is not to “dumb down” standards, but to make sure that state proficiency tests are relevant to the areas of study and career choices of those students who are not necessarily focused on the liberal arts.
Jobs in the 21st-century workplace are increasingly technical and specialized. However, employers have found that current Regents assessments do not fully reflect how well students are prepared for these jobs.
Commissioner King is proposing a reconfiguration of the Regents exams that will properly address present and future challenges.
The business community supports his efforts.
Kathryn Wylde
President & CEO
Partnership for NYC
Manhattan