A response to the article on this link: http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/tilles-don-t-grade-teachers-on-...

I agree with Regent Roger Tilles regarding evaluating teachers and competing in the global market. Evaluating teachers is an important component of good teaching. In recent decades, state standardized tests masked as "diagnostic assessments," which are meant to diagnose low-performing students, have actually taken teachers hostage.

Assessments are necessary, but using a norm-referenced test (measuring and comparing who knows the most and the least) rather than using a criterion-referenced test (measuring how well a person knows a specific body of knowledge and skill) is a punishment of teachers and students. It overlooks the goal of helping low-performing students.

Joseph Coladonato, Long Beach

Editor's note: The writer is a teacher in East Williston.