We must ensure students actually learn subject matter

Re “Math problem: How will San Diego Unified respond to proof of poor teaching in K-12 schools?” (Dec. 21): Crystal Tull is absolutely right — the elimination of standardized testing has led to a disastrous drop in academic achievement among our children. When I went to school in the 1940s and 1950s in New York state, we had to pass standardized Regents exams given at the end of each subject. Those tests ensured that it did not matter whether a student attended a large or a small school — we all had to learn the same subject matter. With the looming advent of AI, it is even more imperative that we reinstate standardized testing for each subject to assure an educated citizenry.

— Ina Rubenstein, San Diego