Schools and Tax Rebate

Assemblywoman Marian W. LaFollette (R-Northridge) is quick to condemn our schools based upon her observation of the actions within one school district. I find her arguments flawed and unsubstantiated (Letters, Sept. 13).

Since, in dealing with many people in the business community and suspecting many times that I may have been ripped off, sold an inferior product or given poor service, should I condemn the entire business community? Likewise, because one school district is guilty of malfeasance, should we condemn all school districts?

Should we cut or deny funds to schools simply because some abuses exist? Maybe we should opt for a tighter-run, elitist private education system.

Such reactionary approaches are antithetical to the democratic process. Nobody said that a democratic free enterprise system would be easy. In fact, it is probably the most difficult system to run effectively. And it takes a highly educated society to make it work well.

With the idea of promoting a better education for all, I say that we should continue to increase our concentration on improving our educational system, which includes reform, better pay for teachers, accountability for all involved (that means not just teachers, but administrators, students, parents, the community--all of society). We cannot hope to achieve any of these goals without proper (not just adequate) funding.

ROBERT C. LUTES

Temple City