I wish to take issue with the column "Teachers should take WASL exam, too" in the April 25 issue of the Times/News, written by Ralph Nichols.

Mr. Nichols suggests that teachers should take the WASL and have their individual scores posted. He further suggests that "this would demonstrate that all teachers are committed by example to the standards the state requires of their students-and could help those on the front lines better understand the relationship between flawed curricula and a failure to acquire math and science skills.

Mr. Nichols is missing some major components of the success or failure on the WASL.

First, he has neglected to discuss the role of the parents. If parents are not actively participating in their children's education, ensuring regular attendance, completed homework, adequate sleep each night, proper breakfast and the stability of staying in the same school over a lengthy period of time, no amount of teacher testing nor score posting is going to make any difference.

Secondly, he might explore the rules for taking the WASL over which teachers have no control. For example, all children enrolled must take the test no matter if they have just immigrated, registered the day before and do not yet speak or read English. Or perhaps they have just transferred from another school and maybe have already moved two or three times this school year.

All of the teachers I now know, have known, and those I have had myself have been very committed people. They are well-educated people and I suspect that everyone has been underpaid. They do not deserve the quick rush to judgment as to their skill level and commitment.

If you want to be critical of the WASL, please explore the issues very broadly and carefully. You may want to apologize to our teachers.

Cheryl Stock

Burien