New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner; standardized tests and students’ grades; revisiting Proposition 13

Tweet stuff

Re “Twitter photo drama hounds congressman from New York,” June 2

Step away from the keyboard!

Imagine how much more work everyone (including New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner) would accomplish, how many real relationships would be developed and maintained, if everyone wouldn’t be addicted to the false notion that they are the center of the universe and everyone really wants to know what they’re having for lunch or that they need to spew every thought without really having thought about it.

This goes for emails, instant messages and — the latest waste of time and savager of reputation — Twitter. And what goes on Facebook is beyond the pale.

Even Aldous Huxley didn’t imagine this brave new world.

Stephany Yablow

North Hollywood

Tests don’t tell all

Re “Tests that count,” Editorial, June 1

The role of standardized tests in grades merits discussion. Although imprecise, as all tests are, they may be more appropriate measures of learning than homework completion, a common criterion for awarding grades and largely an exercise in compliance. A motivator for effort? That is an argument for another day.

The editorial’s real laugh-out-loud moment was in the characterization of a score of 3 on an Advanced Placement test as “mediocre.” It’s like calling the last-place runner in an Olympic trial “slow.” The student who earns a 3 is deemed “qualified” by the College Board. The last-place runner also qualified by being among the best in the country.

What was notably not laughable, however, was the acknowledgement that our current state tests “simply aren’t very good.” They’re good enough, however, for The Times’ news side to use them as a measure of teacher effectiveness.

Keni Brayton Cox

Anaheim

The writer is assistant professor of educational leadership at Cal State Fullerton.

In a discussion with my classes on the importance of standardized tests, I was asked by several students if their scores would count against them. My answer led to more than a few satisfied smirks as students realized there was no good reason to perform well.

Consider this: Every six weeks our students take pre- and post-benchmarks in English, math, history and science. Factor in the high school exit exam along with the many other assessments, and it becomes clear why they may rebel against this culture of testing.

Meanwhile, teachers and administrators are graded by bureaucrats and the public using this test, which has no consequence for our burned-out test-takers. Is there still any wonder why schools have resorted to bribery?

Eric Burgess

Arcadia

It is unfair to call a 3 on an AP test a “mediocre” grade. There are many students who earn an A in an AP class but for whatever reason, certainly not for lack of effort, receive a score of 3 or less. AP students are highly motivated and are expected to work much harder than those in regular classes.

Students know they get nothing out of taking a standardized test that doesn’t impact their course grades. Public schools today generate little of what used to be called school spirit.

Today’s standardized, one-size-fits-all tests are deficient in many ways. If administrators want their students to put in some effort on these tests, they need to come up with a good reason for doing so, not a bribe.

Abraham Hoffman

Canoga Park

The writer is coauthor of the Advanced Placement United States History Preparation Guide, published by CliffsNotes.

Hitting the debt ceiling

Re “GOP meets with Obama on debt limit,” June 2

The debt ceiling was established in 1917 so Congress wouldn’t have to sign off on every issuance of debt. Remember, the ceiling determines how much U.S. debt (already incurred) will be repaid.

The reality is that every time Congress passes a tax cut or a spending bill, the ceiling is, in effect, raised. If you want to avoid raising the debt ceiling, stop handing out tax cuts and watch your spending. In the past, every time the ceiling was reached, it was raised. Both parties recognized the necessity of repaying what had already been borrowed.

As before, the ceiling should be raised again now for the good of everyone. Remember, most of the U.S. debt is owed to American individuals and institutions. There should be no economic hostage-taking or draconian cuts.

Richard Green

San Clemente

I have a couple of simple questions for Republicans who want to give seniors a stipend to buy private insurance instead of relying on Medicare.

First, in the absence of regulation, what’s to stop an insurance company from raising its rates for seniors through the roof? And second, again in the absence of regulation, what insurance company is going to insure a person over the age of 65 who has any type of preexisting condition?

Steve Fisher

Burbank

Proposition 13, then and now

Re “Debunking myth of Prop. 13,” Column, June 1

Steve Lopez hits the nail on the head. Not only do young people buying a house have to pay many times as much in property taxes as their established neighbors, but if they want to start a business, they pay more in property taxes than older businesses.

Many older property owners cling to Proposition 13 as a protection against an increase in their property taxes. However, this contingency of being unable to afford rising property taxes can be remedied by reinstating the tax postponement law.

This law allowed older property owners to avoid paying taxes until their property was sold and their estate settled. The state would have a lien on the property and would be repaid with interest. No foreclosures would be caused by high taxes.

It’s time to stop punishing younger workers.

Shirley A. Conger

Corona del Mar

The arguments against Proposition 13 by Lopez and USC professor Dowell Myers only address assessed valuation and not its other critical part, namely limiting the tax rate to 1%. Having lived through the pre-Proposition 13 increases, I experienced both assessment and rate creep imposed by the politicians who, to this day, are incapable of constraining their spending habits with our money.

Proposition 13 gives homeowners a predictable property tax each year. Assessed values go up no more than 2% in good years. When property values go down, reassessments can take place. Counties are currently going through their tax roles and doing this. If you don’t like the assessor’s valuation, the property owner can file an appeal. All this can be factored into the buy-and-sell decision and not left to government’s whims.

This gives us freedom of choice.

Lee Hennis

Hermosa Beach

Student choices

Re “End to LAX bus service advised,” May 30

After I read the quote from UCLA student body President Emily Resnick, “Without this service, thousands of students will no longer be able to go home for holidays or other important events,” I was reminded of a similar logically challenged statement related to transportation by my former state Assemblywoman Paula Boland in 1991.

With respect to carpool lanes, she said, “It is unfair to deny some people access to the freeway.”

Solo drivers are still ever-present on freeways, and UCLA students will still be able to use buses, taxis, cars driven by themselves or friends, parents or relatives to get to and from Los Angeles International Airport.

Howard Cohen

North Hills