Educational Opportunities

I have to put this individual on the right track. I am from a European country where this test was given at the end of elementary school, and I did not pass this test. This test determined the rest of my educational life.

In high school we were taught how to cook, wash and dress a baby doll, wallpaper school hallways and basically maintain a household because educators thought we were destined to become pregnant by the end of school or soon after and never leave the kitchen. And if by some fluke we did not become pregnant, we were taken on tours of factories that did not offer a trade, but hard labor and not the best working conditions. And in between touring factories and keeping the classroom nice and clean, we had lessons on how to perform on an interview.

Please do not turn to this way of education for very young and immature children, who cannot see that far into their future. If we all had that kind of insight at such a young age wouldn’t we all be some kind of geniuses?

I have a good job, but everything is three times harder for me to learn, but I try. When I am not at the office I am at home doing my own cooking and cleaning. I can even wallpaper and paint; my two children, who by the way were not conceived until I was in my 20s, think I am pretty good.

BRENDA GREEN

Los Angeles