Mailbag

Exit tests helps ensure school

Isn't it wonderful that California is demonstrating the success of our state's generous education programs by publishing the results obtained by each school ("On-again, off-again exit exam is back on," May 25).

It is highly beneficial to insist that those students prove their individual accomplishments by passing tests to verify their qualifications as graduates. Our hope is that the standards are raised so California citizens have a growing knowledge achievement base. More industry and jobs will be attracted to our state if we have higher skill levels by our workforce. I hope that those school attendees who failed the exit exams take advantage of continuing their schooling so they earn their certificates, regardless of the many handicaps that they may have suffered while learning the required levels of competency.

Our school dropout rate is a disgrace for our education community, which needs closer scrutiny. I feel that Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freeman should not have thrown out the exit exam case and I'm pleased that Jack O'Connell appealed Freeman's decision to the State Supreme Court.

PAUL RADEMACHER

La Crescenta

Education is the issue in district

Regarding your May 25 question, "What do you think is the most important issue facing Assembly District 43?": The most important issue in this district is education. Assembly candidate Paul Krekorian has proven to be a great leader in all that he does. And as president of the Burbank school board he has made great strides forward.

Once again, the city can brag about our schools and the cooperation between the school board and the community. I most sincerely hope Krekorian is elected to represent us in Sacramento. He is such a fine person ? well-educated, honest and caring. He's been there when others just talk about what they would do if only they were actually involved.

SHARON MOLANDER

Burbank

Same meeting, different views

Perhaps letter writer Gary Cornell attended a different candidates' forum on May 1 than I did, because his claims about what candidate Frank Quintero said are simply not true ("No doubt about Quintero's stance," May 20).