Culver City’s on the Right Track

Marcella Melendez, please don’t misuse the word Hispanic , which you used in general terms to cover up for what I call a limited view of the world and a closed-minded strategy about what goes on with our young people today. As an experienced mother of three adolescent children and a counselor, I strongly believe there is a great need to provide more accurate information about sex for our children.

The pregnancy rate among teen-age girls has increased every year, venereal disease (and now AIDS) has attained epidemic proportions, and to believe that every family will provide all the necessary information is to believe in fairy tales!

I believe that Culver City is on the right track by making books accessible to meet the needs of the children in the schools. I also believe the family is the launching pad and that schools should support and validate the parents’ views when they prepare and guide their children to become functional and productive members of society. When this doesn’t happen, the schools can assist by providing support and information that is needed so our young people can live in a better and healthier environment.

To our credit, the Hispanic family traditionally is based on strong family ties. However, at the same time, our culture has strong taboos against openly discussing sexual matters, especially with our children. Therefore, it is to our children’s advantage for the schools to take a leadership role in providing this kind of information.

VILMA R. MARTINEZ

Los Angeles