Breakup of L.A School District

In response to mayoral candidate Joel Wachs’ letter “Dividing L.A. School District,” Jan. 31:

Wachs states, “ . . . our schools . . . deliver inferior education. . . .” I notice that sequence of words a lot lately . . . “schools deliver.” As if education were a pizza brought to one’s door.

I have the privilege of working at a public school where 90% of the students are in attendance all day, every day. This after working in several others, some with attendance as low as 75%, which isn’t the worst rate in the city, by far. Where I work the majority of parents fortunately have the resources to provide reasonably peaceful home surroundings, basic health care and supervision of homework.

I submit to Wachs that if education is in fact “delivered,” like a pizza, and the customer is absent at time of delivery, or--if present--incapable of digesting it because of fear, bad health, or other conditions beyond his/her control, that cannot necessarily be remedied by the pizza-maker or the delivery person. Also, Mr. Wachs, those conditions may still exist whether there is one big pizza outlet (LAUSD) or several small ones.

WENDELL H. JONES, Counselor

L.A. County High School for the Arts