Quality of Schools

I was shocked and amazed that the UC San Diego chancellor, Richard Atkinson, was so uninformed about the highly competitive and effective program in science, mathematics and the humanities located at La Jolla High in the shadow of his university (“Schools Woo Offspring of Foreign Scientists,” July 11). This school has consistently swept the field in scientific and mathematics competitions nationwide. Coupled with our outstanding program at Gompers, and at award-winning schools like Point Loma, the ITER scientists’ children will have outstanding public school options.

These schools are available without massive incursions into the income of visiting scientists, and without the need to prove that they can provide the proper “genetic pool” necessary for entry into La Jolla Country Day, as stated by Headmaster John C. Littleford.

The fact that our district personnel did not respond appropriately to ITER inquiries is no reason to assume that other programs in the district are as ineffective. That issue, I am sure, will be discussed in detail with Supt. Tom Payzant and others in due time.

JOHN de BECK, Trustee, San Diego Unified School District