L.A. School Problems

For the umpteenth millionth time, the Los Angeles School Board has resolved to “do something” about low test scores (Part I, March 28). Led by Rita Walters, they have latched on to their traditional bogyman, “institutional racism,” as the culprit.

Might I suggest a cause much more concrete? The appallingly high teacher turnover rate in inner-city schools. Many inner-city schools have annual teacher turn-over rates of 25% to 40%. In some classrooms students see a new teacher every 4 or 5 weeks, not to mention a string of transient day-to-day subs.

Why can’t the board figure out what this high rate of teacher transiency does to the educational process?

It’s indeed ironic that the board never addresses working conditions in inner-city schools nor asks itself why it is so difficult to find and retain teachers. Worse, the board is resorting to its traditional scapegoat--teacher tactics--when it suggests that teachers’ salary demands will prevent the board from spending money to raise student test scores.

I will not deny that institutional racism may still exist, but idiotic administrators come in all colors. And the old bugbear, institutional racism, pales when compared to the real problem with LAUSD, institutional stupidity and bureaucratic incompetence, beginning at the top.

And that’s where the public needs to begin issuing pink slips.

WILLIAM JOSEPH MILLER

Los Angeles