Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 3 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Hidden
Agendas?
To the Editor:
Exciting news about the performance of RCHS students on SAT tests was included on the front page of the Culpeper Star Exponent on Thursday, August 29.
The same afternoon my copy of the Rappahannock News arrived containing two long, negative letters about the public schools. Unfortunately, neither included the hidden agenda of the authors. Experienced educators are well aware that the ability level of entering students varies from year to year, often to a great degree. Some classes are high achieving; others are not. This variable is outside the control of the public schools; they cannot choose the students they serve.
The well-written, concise editorial on the same page made the point that Rappahannock students had significantly higher passing rates on the individual tests in writing (61percent), math (77 percent), and reading (72 percent). The low score was related to the percentage of students passing all three tests.
Most of us are aware of the societal changes that have had a strongly negative impact on many of today's children, i.e., TV, latch-key kids, lack of appropriate child care, socioeconomic factors, etc. The critical question is, "What are we going to do to counteract these influences?" This is a question for every citizen to consider, not just the educators.
My question to critics is, "Are you going to be part of the problem or part of the solution, not just for your own children, but for all children?" I sincerely hope that your answer is the latter.
MARGARITA S. PIPER
Culpeper
96.8%