Bilingual Education
I am sorry that Rodolfo F. Acuna is dissatisfied with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s efforts to serve its Latino students (“Schools Fail Latinos in Any Tongue,” Opinion, Dec. 10). What would he have us, the classroom teachers, do?
As a Caucasian teacher whose students are nearly all Latinos, I cannot be the Latina role model which Acuna prefers. I can be a good teacher. I love and respect my students; I expect them to succeed and direct my efforts to motivating them toward excellence. My colleagues do the same.
Acuna cites many statistics, but fails to explain why Latino youngsters often choose not to complete their educations, and choose not to become teachers. I reiterate: choose. After all, motivation must come not only from teachers, but also from students. Latinos, like others, must choose to succeed.
ROBIN L. WINSTON
Culver City
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