The Good Life in Beverly Hills

We are disappointed that David Farrell in his article, “Town That Tells Time on a Rolex” (Part A, Jan. 28), did not delve a little further into the reasons for the Beverly Hills teachers’ strike in a community described as “a symbol of the finest in life, of quality and social refinement.”

Your readers might have been interested to know that two years ago the residents were asked to vote on a minimal parcel tax to maintain the educational standards and programs for the children and competitive teacher salaries. The measure requiring a two-thirds majority failed to pass.

The $600,000 pledged by parents has to date only totaled $200,000. Each teacher, aide and classified employee will receive a 1% payment from the money this year. Class size has risen in the elementary and middle schools. Many teachers are struggling with 27 and 28 students in a room. We find it difficult to believe that this number is 10 fewer than similar classrooms in Los Angeles.

It is hard to understand why a community which has a minimum welfare system, no hospital, let alone a museum, concert hall or sports arena, cannot afford to support its own school system about which it is so proud.

A condominium owner may call the town a “fairyland” but unless she and the rest of the residents of Beverly Hills vote for the new parcel tax planned for the June 5 ballot, the present schoolchildren and future generations may have to come down to Earth and face the reality of a severely curtailed school system and its consequences.

JULIE SWANSON

BEATRICE FARBER

Beverly Hills