Mr. Ward's letter to the editor which appeared in the June 2 issue of your paper is a frightening demonstration of the very same type of distortions I accused him of.

His misrepresentation of my letter clearly illustrates that it is his bitterness, not his integrity, which motivates Mr. Ward's poisoned pen. In his latest letter, he writes "I hope that Richard can explain why the Levittown School District, with its alleged 99 percent mastery level ..." It is unfortunate that Mr. Ward failed to comprehend that a 99 percent "mastery" was never alleged in my letter. My letter read:

"According to the New York State School District Report Card for the Levittown Union Free School District (February 2000), 99 percent of Levittown's 4th graders in 1999 scored above the benchmark (Level 2 or higher) in English language arts. This compares to 89 percent statewide. In math, 99 percent of these same students also scored above the benchmark. This compares to 90 percent statewide. While Levittown's Level 2 numbers are higher than we would like, we must consider that this is a new test which assesses new higher standards."

In fact, nowhere in my letter does the word "mastery" or a synonym for "mastery" appear. I used the phrase the State Education Department uses which is "above the benchmark."

Mr. Ward's accusation that I accept "mediocrity as 'quality" education" is absurd. In the above quote, I clearly recognize the need to help more Level 2 students to achieve at higher levels. One of my differences with Mr. Ward is in how this can best be accomplished. Clearly, his attempts to place this district on austerity would not have helped our schools raise students achievement.

Despite the assertions contained in his letter, Mr. Ward's incessant barrage of criticism leveled at our schools has nothing to do with integrity. Integrity isn't about publicly attacking an organization or individual for needing improvement and then seeking to deny your victim the resources required. Integrity is about identifying a problem and being a positive part of the solution. Integrity is about recognizing success, even if not at the highest levels, and then supporting efforts to reach further.

I hope that Mr. Ward's integrity compels him to write a letter to this paper commending the teachers and students of Levittown for the dramatic increase in the students' performance on the 4th grade ELA scores published in the June 2 edition of Newsday. Newsday reports a 14 percent increase in the number of students "meeting or exceeding standards." I, for one, say "Bravo."

In closing, I thank Mr. Ward for his advice in the form of the old axiom: "The Price of Integrity is Eternal Vigilance." I take pride in the fact that I have chosen to pay that price. Twenty years ago, I worked against Mr. Ward's attack on the Levittown Schools through my presentations to the board of education and my work to elect better school board members. It is with renewed vigilance that I attempt to counter his bitter and angry assaults now.