To the Editor:Upon summarizing the brief content of the Star Press (www.thestarpress.com) 03/05/03 report (Local schools show improvement, but still have work to do) by Oseye Boyd I conclude that tests continually stifle teacher and student creativity under the oppressive choke hold of PL 221. Once again this shows that those with deep pockets in powerful places shirk back from the real issues when addressing our childrens wholistic educational needs.Regardless of what kind of reports Indiana State School Superintendent Dr. Suellen Reed, and superintendents statewide are pressured to produce under the federal guise of "No Child Left Behind", there are still a few behind-the-scenes educators who refuse to sit on their gluteus maximus who never intend to leave any child behind. If a student is too stubborn and undisciplined to learn, the school should not be penalized. Test statistics can never take into account the ugly variables like physical and verbal abuse, malnutrition, lack of parental care, or perhaps even a teacher that is just plain ridiculous to get along with no matter what they do to try and please their instructor. Those who go the extra educational mile for our children are always ignored when it comes to dollars and sense. Less than attractive scores and attendance records alone should be used as the guillotine when countless families are trying to just make it from day to day in tough economic and emotional situations. Why rate the worth of our schools on our society turned malevolent when people only think of themselves? Let a teacher give a pat of encouragement on the back of a child who does well, and they become one of America's Most Wanted. But let a child create havoc in a classroom, and all of a sudden it's the student's word against the teachers. Things were a lot easier when the fear of the paddle was left hanging in the corner as a reminder of what would happen if you dare misbehaved or mouthed off. But it's a different world now.The community at large has nothing to lose by volunteering for special days that show children a bigger picture of the many ways they can be successful with or without a college education. Elementary city schools like Washington Carver and Longfellow are in areas with mobile populations. Should they be "left behind" financially because of test scores and a declining enrollment? I have gotten to know there are some wonderful staff members who do worth that is beyond a test score that pretends to measure quality in education by way of a few well placed digits, but at the same time will never will be able to track quality in dedication. Somewhere out there is a dedicated underpaid teacher giving time they could take doing self-serving tasks things rather than encouraging children who get nothing but grief once they go home. Put that on state report. Cynthia Lewis Reed, Local AuthorMuncie, IN