Cheating No Cause to Abolish Testing

* This letter is in response to Hugh Glenn’s article on testing, grades and cheating (“Preoccupation With Testing and Grades Fosters Cheating,” Sept. 5).

Glenn states that the public and schools have a deep-rooted preoccupation and fetish with testing and grading, including widespread cheating--by students and educators alike.

I don’t know if testing and grading are as deep-rooted and a fetish as they are required by law. And how else to ascertain how well a student is receiving and retaining information? Would Glenn feel safe on the highway if we stopped testing and grading unlicensed drivers?

And as far as cheating, of course it goes on and probably will continue. But that is a moral issue, which I noticed he never mentioned. Cheating on tests or anywhere else should not be tolerated, but implying that we should abolish testing and grading because some immoral people cheat on tests is ridiculous.

JOE BISWICK

Irvine