Quit teaching to the tests

I've read several letters to the editor and Speak Out comments from teachers indicating that the amount of time necessary to teach the MAP tests is taking time away from teaching the coursework.

About five years ago, a former Cape Girardeau school superintendent issued a challenge to the community for some adults to take an abbreviated version of the math, science and English sections of the MAP test. About 12 adults took the test. I scored a 91 percent and there were at least four higher scores than mine. The lowest was an 81 percent. Most were in their 40s and 50s. I believe I was the oldest at age 60. I don't think the results of our performance were anticipated.

My grade school class from the 1954-1955 school year had 40 students, close to the standard for that time. I'm sure our grades at Franklin and through high school were not as good as what students achieve today. However, the monetary system is not the only place inflation has struck. If students learned the course material, the MAP test should be anticlimatic.

STEVE RICKARD, Cape Girardeau