Argument Won't Hold

To the Editor:

In the Nov. 3 Chief, Brandon Ward, president of the NYC chapter of Blacks in Government, wrote about the FDNY test, discrimination in employment and education, and the nebulous notion of "qualifications."

His premise is probably correct. In describing Iris Weinshall's remark, "qualifications are guidelines only," he is hitting the nail on the head. In reality, most discretionary political/provisional appointments are not based on any qualifications relative to job performance and are based on non-job-related qualifications such as political favors, sexual favors, clubhouse loyalties and quotas. Some of the people so chosen just happen to have job-related qualifications, but that is a chance factor.

The very legitimate concerns of Mr. Ward would best be met by adherence to the merit system in civil service and long-term improvement in the education offered minorities. It should, however, be realized that a fairly administered job-relevant test cannot concern itself with disparate impact if blacks get lower marks. That is not the task of the civil service administration.

If a test is given in Chinese fluency, those who fail cannot argue that they did not have a good education in Chinese and should be permitted to pass.

Such an argument is nonsensical.

GEORGE SILBERMAN