Can't change directory with shell(cd)

[Michael D Mays]

I'm doing this

  answer folder ""
  put it into aPath
  put "cd "&aPath into aRequest
  put aRequest into fld 1
  put shell(aRequest) into fld 2
  put shell("ls") into fld 3

No matter which folder I chose, Rev's 'Home' folder is the directory  
listed.
When I cut and paste fld 1 into the Terminal, ls works as expected.

What am I doing wrong or is this a 'feature';)?

Thanks,
Michael
OS 10.5.2
2.16 GHz ICD