Standardized testing [“Lawmakers vote to cut tie between state test scores and teacher ratings,” Feb. 7] needs to be part of the whole picture when evaluating individual student growth, but it needs to be a small part of the puzzle that values growth versus proficiency for every student struggling to advance.

I agree with the Learning Curve column [Feb. 7] 100 percent.

Regarding the Chapter Leader Shoutout [Feb. 7] about Deborah Navarro, who has built a “union proud, union strong” chapter at PS 226 in Brooklyn based on what she calls “true collaboration” with her principal: Reaching the goal of a workplace where no one feels intimidated is awesome.

I just received The Retiree newsletter and was disappointed to see a picture of Mayor de Blasio and AFT President Randi Weingarten campaigning in Florida for Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor there who fortunately lost.

Regarding the article “Keeping the Dream alive” [Education Nation, Jan. 3], it appears that teacher Elizabeth Villanueva is proud that she and her mother entered this country illegally and took advantage of benefits and rights reserved for legal American citizens.

Critical thinking is the cornerstone of education. That is axiomatic. Enshrining this principle of critical thinking in teaching is the theme of Patrick Sprinkle’s Teacher to Teacher article headlined “Is it fake news?” [Dec. 6].