Marshall High’s Championship

John Marshall High’s astonishing victory at the U.S. Academic Decathlon in Dallas brings honor to everyone in the Southland. The triumph of these talented, outstanding young people and their dedicated faculty coaches is a source of true joy.

As frequently occurs, however, triumph can be offset by tragedy. One shudders over the possibility that brilliant, inspiring teachers such as Marshall High coaches David Tokofsky and Ann Choi-Rho may be forced to leave their profession because they are pathetically underpaid. It would be nothing less than criminal if they and thousands of their equally skilled colleagues were forced to take such survival action. Hey, folks, we’re talking future!

Why are not money from the California State Lottery “Our Schools Win, Too”--sure--allocated in part toward rewarding first-rate teachers with merit increases? How about using some of the enormous amounts spent and wasted on those super-hype, glitzy, mostly distasteful commercials and other advertising?

Unless a quick alignment is done on our priorities, we’d better prepare ourselves for the status of an “F” grade society.

SID SKOLNIK

West Hollywood