To the Editor:

Rather than despair over the racial gap in standardized testing, we should think of the results as our call to action (Op-Ed, June 10). We do black and Hispanic students irreparable harm by sending the message that their brains and abilities are weaker than those of white and Asian students.

I have learned from experience that black and Hispanic students can achieve and compete if educators not only challenge them to do their best but also do the hard work that will provide students with the skills to make that happen. Finally, we need to say as a society that the loss of so many caretakers of our future is unacceptable.

MICHAEL A. JOHNSON

Brooklyn, June 10, 1999