The search for gifted students in L.A.; endorsements, or the lack of them, by The Times; buying American

Too good to ignore

Re “L.A. schools seek — and find — gifted students,” May 9

How many times must we learn that if the bar is set high, students will strive to reach it?

The late Jaime Escalante showed this country that students from East L.A. could pass the AP math exam. Yet we still let minority students in the poor areas of L.A. go unchallenged.

When students are bored, they will find something to do, and it usually involves trouble of some kind. Challenge them, and students will exceed our expectations.

Thank goodness for Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, which is beginning to seek out gifted students in a group of historically low-performing schools. We need to challenge all students to achieve their potential.

Suzanne Brugman

Whittier

As a former gifted-program coordinator at my elementary school, I disagree with the underlying notion of the article: that LAUSD has not sought out more gifted students in poor schools because of racism and classism.

There are other influences that maintain the status quo. First, the process that LAUSD goes by to “flag out” gifted students is antiquated and inefficient. The time required to maintain this process lowers it as a priority at any school.

Another reason that lower socioeconomic-area schools do not participate in the process is that they receive federal Title I money, which surpasses any amount the district appropriates for gifted programs. These schools are far less motivated to find alternative avenues of funding.

As a teacher, I believe that all children have the potential to succeed. Attention to “enhanced” learning opportunities should begin and continue at home. Libraries, museums, nature walks and plain old serious discussion are freely available to all. The major difference in the higher socioeconomic-area schools is parent advocacy. Let’s remember: The best things in life are free.

Margaret Cruz

Van Nuys

Gifted students are special-needs students, yet the state sends schools just $25 apiece for gifted programs?

I am a teacher at a middle school in the Fontana Unified District that has a gifted and talented magnet program. These students flourish in classes with their peers, and they need teachers with special certification to teach them.

The occasional “field trip” or a few pull-out activities do not meet the needs of these students. Education of special-needs students, including gifted students, needs to be more equitable.

Diane Bettge

Alta Loma

To vote or not to vote

Re “Choosing not to choose,” Editorial, May 7

I am in agreement with The Times’ decision not to endorse any candidates in the primaries for Senate and governor.

At such a crucial time, we are confronted with a miserable bunch of candidates. It is time for laws to be passed regulating who can run and a limit on finances. There has to be some criteria of prior experience before celebrities and the very wealthy, with their overinflated egos, can seek public office. The times we live in are too complex and too dire to entrust governing to those who are not experienced.

A good example is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who actually talks of laws being changed so he can run for president. After the mess he has made of California, he does not even have the decency to be embarrassed by his miserable performance as governor.

Carene Landino

Temple City

What crassness, and a lack of both guts and scruples.

Better to vote while holding your nose than not to vote at all. You can outline what’s wrong with the political landscape and still offer a responsible endorsement.

No wonder you guys endorsed Gavin Newsom. And people complain about the Chronicle.

Mike Ege

San Francisco

Re “The best choices,” Editorial, May 9

Because The Times has endorsed Newsom for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary, I’ll be voting against him and everyone else you’ve endorsed.

The reason for your support, you stated, was that “he would be an interesting governor-in-waiting.”

There is an old Chinese curse that says, “May you live in interesting times.”

Newsom has made San Francisco a sanctuary city. I don’t want California to become a sanctuary state. We can’t afford it.

Doreen Lorand

Downey

Re “An assessor to count on,” Editorial, May 6

I appreciate The Times’ kind words about my tenure as Los Angeles County assessor, but I am disappointed you didn’t join me and retired Assessor Kenneth P. Hahn in endorsing Deputy Assessor John Noguez as my successor.

Many of the candidates on the June primary ballot — like your pick, John Y. Wong — are somewhat familiar with appraisal issues, but running the largest assessment office in the country takes more than that. Only Noguez has the rare combination of training, experience, knowledge and temperament needed to efficiently manage the assessor’s office while maintaining the 99-plus rating from the state Board of Equalization.

As a longtime Huntington Park mayor and City Council member, he already knows the kind of prompt, fair and friendly service that the public expects from government. Noguez would continue providing it to all homeowners and businesses in Los Angeles County.

Rick Auerbach

Chino Hills

The writer is L.A. County’s former assessor.

We can’t afford to lose jobs

Re “Recharging ‘made in the USA,’ ” May 9

Thanks to company founder and MIT professor Yet-Ming Chiang and President Obama’s stimulus program, A123 Systems is building new factories in Michigan to produce innovative batteries.

Because of skeptical investors in Silicon Valley, A123 reluctantly built its first plants in China, where it lost some control of its intellectual property. Soon A123 was competing with Chinese companies who copied A123’s technology.

This story shows how titans of capitalism force American entrepreneurs to deal with a communist country that has no respect for intellectual property, costing our country jobs and money.

Hopefully, with a U.S. plant where it can implement further innovations, A123 will outperform its Chinese counterfeiters. I wish it much success.

Norma Arbisser

Los Angeles

Hooray for Chiang! But it’s frustrating that A123 could not get financing to build factories in the U.S. sooner.

It’s a mighty challenge to buy American in 2010, whether it’s a big-ticket item or balloons.

Have you been to the toy store lately? Or any discount store? Take a look at our clothing, electronics, hardware, utensils, new gadgetry and even the food we put in our mouths and our children’s mouths. Where do these things come from?

We had better do a lot more for our economic future, and now. Regardless of race or culture, Americans need jobs, and we all need to support this country. Creativity, ideas and strengths abound here, but we need to see the product to its fruition instead of outsourcing all of those ideas.

It’s time to think about the end result rather than immediate profits or the instant gratification of more and more and more.

Marlene Aragon

Aliso Viejo

Don’t overlook these candidates

Re “4 tax board seats are on June ballot,” May 10

In an extensive article, The Times somehow found no room for the names and positions of some of the opposition you call “token.” For instance, you neglected to mention three candidates in District 4: Nancy Lawrence of the Peace & Freedom Party; Peter de Baets, a Libertarian; and Shawn Hoffman of the American Independent Party.

I cannot speak for the other candidates, but I know Lawrence will be running on a platform that includes revision of Proposition 13 (taxing large commercial property at market rates), an oil severance tax and restoring higher pre-Reagan/Wilson tax rates on the rich.

Although The Times’ editorial board has endorsed Proposition 14, which would deprive the voters of real choice and eliminate third parties, this should not cause the news desk to act as if it has already passed.

I think you owe your readers an article about Lawrence and other third-party candidates.

Gary Gordon

Culver City