Whittle Schools

The creation of these private schools reeks of exclusionary policies. In the article, it was explained that selection of students for the 1,000 schools would be random and a whopping 20% of low-income students would receive scholarships. However, Schmidt is silent on whether or not students with educational or physical handicaps, those who do not speak English fluently, or have other expensive special needs will be “acceptable.” How is Schmidt going to demonstrate how public schools can be run more efficiently when his private schools exclude what amounts to more than half of the current Los Angeles student population? If his schools don’t have the same open standards and rules as public schools, his whole premise of demonstrating better school management to public schools goes out the window.

Of course, Schmidt’s plan is to compare the two systems and find the public schools lacking when it is really a case of public schools functioning under different rules and regulations; ones that say all students are entitled to the best education possible within their abilities.

We’re not fooled, Mr. Schmidt.

HELEN BERNSTEIN, President

United Teachers-Los Angeles