Gangs and School Life

Your concern for the educational and social environment of Edwin Markham Intermediate School is exemplary. Your previous article on the “Super Kids of Watts,” (the Markham Pentathletes) was well-received by the student body, faculty, staff and region administrators. However, your article on Feb. 5 (“Gang Tension: At School, Survival Comes First,” Part I) did just the opposite.

Your staff could have taken a more positive approach in recognizing the majority of the student body at Markham instead of the minority you seemed to relish, dwelling on gang tension.

Instead of reinforcing feared beliefs of inner-city students, you could have mentioned the two track stars in the ’88 Olympics, Kevin Young and Florence Griffith Joyner, who were former Markham students. You could have mentioned alumni from Markham that are doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and administrators. You could have mentioned the 88 students in 1987 and the 60 students in 1988 who participated in the Run for Fun city competition. We also have students who participate in the Jesse Owens track meets. We send students yearly to regional algebra and geometry competition. Our students take the PSAT and participate in the Saturday Med-Core Program. We have other students who participate in drama, dance, and Shakespearean festivals.

As a teacher, alumnus, and parent, I, too, am concerned about Markham and the long-neglected students who are neither “gangbangers” or pentathletes. They are the students who walk to and from school with no problems because they don’t hang out with gang members. They are the students who regularly attend class, and learn in the process. They are the 57% who graduate from Markham, graduate from high school and for some, attend at least one year of college. They are the students whom corporate America should invest in because they possess a strong sense of character to survive no matter what the situation.

EARLENE CONROE

Los Angeles