Project Ten Schools

Elaine Woo’s article (Part I, Aug. 23) about the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Project Ten Schools stated, “The only opposition to the program has come from United Teachers-Los Angeles President Wayne Johnson.” This is not true. As I have told Woo many times, as well as two Times editorial writers in a two-hour discussion, we are not opposed to the program but have some serious concerns with it. UTLA wants Project Ten Schools to be successful. Teachers are tired of LAUSD’s programs that have great slogans and a lot of hype that have all failed miserably.

The key to raising test scores in our schools is to cut class size, with a lot of individual attention from a good teacher and a lot of parental support. The present program cuts class size only in kindergarten to grade two. What about the students in grades three through six? Important programs such as reading specialists have been cut from these 10 schools.

The district gives with one hand and takes away with the other. The small budget increase at the school site will not make a significant difference in the education offered to the children.

Several dedicated teachers at the project schools were not retained but were transferred for political reasons.

It would be a real boost to a principal’s career to come in and turn one of these schools around. The fact that so few were interested tells you what most of them think about the program’s chances of success.

Teaching is a very hard job and we have concern that these dedicated teachers will be at the school site instructing six days a week. UTLA has fears that they will not be able to maintain their high level of teaching, carrying such a heavy load for an entire school year.

UTLA thinks the LAUSD’s word merchants and slogan makers are at it again, raising the hopes of a community that has already been disappointed too many times.

UTLA sincerely hopes that the program will be a huge success but unfortunately we have our doubts.

WAYNE JOHNSON

President, UTLA

Los Angeles