European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday september 27.1988 a " scores dip ending 8-year gain new York a average sat scores lost ground in 1988 for the first time in eight years but minority students continued a decade Long pattern of gains the College Board reported. Scares on the verbal Section of the Scholastic anti \ tude test fell two Points to an average 428, while the average on he math Section was unchanged at 476, according to the Board s annual report. Both portions of the multiple Choice exam taken each year by 1.1 million College bound students arc scored on a scale of 200-800, with a combined 1,600 .  math verbal average of 904 marked the first decline in eight years. The National average hit a Low of90 in 1980, recovered a bit to 906 by 1983 and was unchanged until this year s slight decline. Ironically the release of the sat averages coincided with the Plak cd departure tuesday of . Education Secretary William j. Dennett who during his 3ftyears in office had credited the Reagan administration with spurring reforms that until this year had helped produce gradually improving sat scores. College Board officials nonetheless cheered the stability Oil St scores in recent years. We re pleased frankly that there is As much Stabil Ity in the scores As the data suggests Board president Donald a Stewart told reporters. He noted that scores generally were holding up eve though the number of test takers has risen 13 percent since 1986 and the number of minority test lakers was up 23,066, or 1 percent in the last year alone. Minority students in the class of 88, especially Blacks posted the strongest grins. Verbal scores among Blacks fast year Rose an average of two Points to 353, and Mash scores Rose seven Points to 384 doubly impressive since the number of Black test lakers rose39 percent in three years from 70,156 in 1985 to 97,483 last year said the boart research director Robert g. Cameron. V Stewart said it was unclear Why Jority student were gaining. One explanation is that Federal programs such As head Start begun in the 1960and 1970s an aimed at assisting poor students Are now paying off in higher minority sat scores. \ men continued to outperform women with male test takers scoring an average 498 math and 435 ver bal while females scared 455 math 422 Ferbal. Test critics have charged that uie sat is Bias cd against women both in its wording and Content \ College Board officials deny the Bias change and counter that schools May be to blame for sleeting pc mates into leu demanding curricula. \ sat scores by St new York a the average Sci Ludo test scores by state for the class released by the College Board. The scores generally Are highest in Small percentage of High school Union College Board officials discourage s prisons because the percentage of widely among the states and Bechai Are self selected. Shown Are each slate s average in verbal and math the 1987 so age of graduates who took the a Lastic anti if 1988, As lies where a in the exam stale Corn lakers varies test takers scores for 1988and the percent 1988. State Autwel  490 to Uhl 441 436 Alton t Alunni 47 Keil it Mph Palti Unghi us 413 400 414 4m 4m 440 421 400 404 473 493 416 516 4w 4134n 4m 411 435 45 471 487 474 47siea As 450 426 4 4 419 400too 451 486 444 is 433 337 513 4�7 419 pm 440 414 465 468 476 4b1 ei5 479 505 511 401 s14 473 470 470 440 477 i 611 419 874 b4j 519 509tie 477 474 i3 1 Hitie to e45 494 48ba�7 b2s4ig 438 558 499 610 194to 465 435 6bj 624 4� 64o 474 473 490 499 654 5131 8 43 12 7 44 19 by 2 49 he 1t 19 55 6 10 10 10 59 60 73 13 17 4 14 10 10 24 of 69 11 71 59 ej3 9 50 u 64 c7e 13 4ee m a3 i 14 14 11 controversial Mission builder of California beatified by Pope Vatican City a Pope John Paul ii on sunday beatified a Spanish priest revered As the founder of California s missions but reviled by some who claim he whipped and enslaved the Indi ans he Laboured to  Rev. Junipero Serra moved a step toward sainthood when he was made a blessed of the roman Catholic Church along with a mexican priest executed by firing squad an italian Cardinal a French missionary the italian founder of a religious order and a Spanish  Paul beatified the six during a three hour open air mass held in St. Peter s Square before a Golden altar flanked by Flowers and Swiss guards i their distinctive Gold Blue and red uniforms. More than 20,600 people crowded into the Square some wearing paper Hais to  from the Bright Sun. The Pope speaking briefly in English called Serra a shining example if Christian virtue and the missionary  / bring the gospel to these that they Loo might Ith " said John Paul. Jay included the Rev. Miguel Agustin pro a Jet priest executed by mexi can police in 1927 Cardinal Giuseppe Benedetto iry archbishop of Catania in itch his life to the poor and \ naval Giracs a 19th-Century Spanish woman who Dedica students can Contact regional science coordinators for More information. Drug education experts to attend Stuttgart meeting Stuttgart West Germany two leading experts will attend a three Day conference at Patch High school designed to provide the latest drug education information. Donald Macdonald an adviser to president Reagan on drug problems and Gabriel Nahas a drug toxicology expert for Fol Columbia University have agreed to attend the parents research Institute for drug Educa Tion program nov. 20-22. School and military officials Hope to attract Stu dents parents and military members to the conference at the Stuttgart International hotel a Germany Region spokesman advised those Stu dents wanting to attend to seek financial help from local Pitsas or Booster clubs students will be charged �40. Parents and educators will be charged s60. More information can be obtained by writing he Neucom Patch Barracks 7000, Stuttgart 80, West Germany. J students and parents seeking information about the conference can Call David Young at German civilian 0711-687751 or ets 430-7191. Brain bowl scheduled to be held in no Ember it Irmburg West germ by Wurzburg High school will be Host of the seventh  games on nov. 18 and 19. At least 30 High schools invest Germany Are expected to participate in the Competition usually called the brain bowl. Teams of four students Williw asked questions on All curriculum areas during the double elimination Competition which rewards up Eft and accuracy. Call Mary below at German Tyilian 0931-706524 or ets 350-6328 for More information. Body found on Oil Rig is missing employee s Aberdeen Scotland