Not only money is inflatable. Words, which are the currency of communication, also have inflationary tendencies.

A word which may have been "worth" a dollar in 1939 may be valued at only 48 cents today, if it had been so overworked that its original value has been worn away.

Recently, it was found that the word "satisfactory" is unsatisfactory when a teacher uses it to rate the ability of a pupil. "Satisfactory" originally meant "giving satisfaction" which is a fine and rare thing to do. But 90 per cent of high school teachers rate pupils as "excellent" or "superior" ‑ because "satisfactory" is now worth only half of its original value.

Likewise, in evaluating books or plays or movies, to call an actor or author "competent" is virtually an insult. Yet "competent" is a splendid word, meaning fit and capable and answering all requirements. A poor relative of "competent" is "adequate," which has also lost its original meaning and is now almost a sneering designation of "merely good enough."

Unless the language is policed regularly, this verbal inflation carries us to ridiculous extremes. The adjective "great" now applies to nearly everythinga great record, a great product, a great performer, a great school. This word by now is worth only two cents on the dollar and has absolutely no emotional impact.

Indeed, a school that. is merely "great" is almost as unsatisfactory as the student who is only "satisfactory," or as incompetent as a writer who is only competent.

Like monetary inflation, verbal inflation cheapens the currency you possess, and makes you spend more to get less.

Today's student to be classified as "top" must be "a great team worker with terrific ideas, a tremendous amount of energy, and a fabulous personality"

Who can live up to this?

Mary Ann Normark