Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 11:18:10 -0600 (CST)
From: Mike Sullivan 
To: editor (at) chronicle.com [Chronicle of Higher Education]
Subject: Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

RE: TOO TOUGH FOR TEMPLE, March 29, 2002.

While I cannot judge Dr. Eisen's classroom demeanor it is
clear that his arithmetic and algebra pretest is very simple.
No high school should be graduating students who cannot
pass it and no college should admit anyone who cannot ace it.
Since it is very unlikely that our schools and colleges are going
to start enforcing learning standards I have an alternative solution.
Anyone applying to get or renew a driver's license should be required
to pass one of Dr. Eisen's pretests. Anyone can learn this stuff;
they just need the right motivation to study. Imagine, a whole nation
that knows how to add fractions!
 

Mike Sullivan
Assoc. Prof.
Math Dept.
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale IL 62901