But only 28 percent said they believed that the tests are culturally biased against African-American students.

But Mr. Wicker adds, "admission tests are conceded to be culturally biased against minority students."

Carl Galmon, a local activist, claimed in 1996 that Franklin's admissions tests are culturally biased against black students.

The first explanation is that standardized IQ tests and testing procedures are culturally biased toward European-American middle class knowledge and experiences.

Well, I'd like to know what could possibly be culturally biased on a test for a firefighter.

"I don't think it's culturally biased at all," Mr. Potter said.

Mr. Thompson says no because he thinks admissions tests are culturally biased against blacks.

Mayor John Lindsay argued that the test was culturally biased against Black and Hispanic students and sought to implement an affirmative action program.

When this is done, however, researchers will need to ensure that the items on the scale are not culturally biased toward Western concepts.

The protesters urged the city to reconsider its firing of 10,000 uncertified teachers over the last five years, saying the test was culturally biased against blacks and Hispanics.