RESULTS OF AN INFORMAL SURVEY I conducted on the first day of class, August 26. I told the students that their answers would not affect their grade.

My first question: What proportion of the work force earns minimum wage?. Of the 83 responses, the mean was 32.6 percent, the (divided by n-1) standard deviation was 17.8, the mode 25, the lowest estimate 0.73, and the highest estimate 80 percent.

The reality: less than 10 percent of the work force earns minimum wage.

Next: Are real living standards in the U.S. better or worse today than they were 100 years ago?. 46 students offered better, 34 offered worse.

Last: In a financial transaction, who benefits, the seller or the buyer?. 35 respondents offered the seller, 8 the buyer, and 41 showed the initiative to answer both. That's an encouraging note on which to begin the term.