Ticket for ‘Field Trip of the Mind’

Regina Chaney is to be commended for her “uphill struggle in today’s video-dominated culture,” by encouraging her Lindbergh seventh-grade English students in the love of the written word (Times, Jan. 14). Through avid reading, one can grow, think and dream to be! Commendable also is her engendering of writing skills, which her students will need on an ever-increasing basis.

As a re-entry student at Cerritos College, I am grateful for a lifelong reading habit, enabling me to digest and analyze ideas and concepts. Education should be a joyful lifelong pursuit, and an early love of reading paves the way to successful studying and sharing of ideas.

In writing for CSULB’s (Cal State Long Beach) recent 40-year anniversary, an educator noted that he envisioned college as a place where motivated students “join hands and together go on a giant field trip of the mind.” A committed, motivated teacher, such as Regina Chaney, lays the groundwork for students preparing to take such an exhilarating field trip. Her students’ later achievements will surely reflect Regina Chaney’s expertise, dedication and inspiration.

It has been said that “Education is not preparation for life--Education is life!” One might also add that as breathing is to living, reading is to education.

PATRICIA A. KELLY

Bellflower