Alleged Armed Classroom Takeover Plot by Students Prompts Concerns

* In “School Urged to Expel 3 in Alleged Plot” (Oct. 12), concerned parents lobbied the Huntington Beach school board to expel three students for weapons possession and classroom takeover plot. No one disputes the necessity of ensuring safe public school campuses. However, since passage of Proposition 13 shifted funding from the local to state levels, schools receive about $100 per day per student. For the three children involved, that’s $300 per day, or $45,000 assuming expulsion for the rest of the school year; roughly 1.5 teacher salaries. Why should school districts be punished for maintaining tough policies against weapons and violence?

Second, one parent who attended the board meeting suggested permanent expulsion. Most criminals are dropouts. By abandoning these children now, they will cost taxpayers more in the long run. A more realistic solution would be to create a “boot-camp” type of school, paid for as much as possible by the parents of these children who abrogated their responsibilities in the first place.

BOB BATH

Mission Viejo

* Three of my four children are graduates of Marine View School in Huntington Beach. I found Marine View School to be a safe school for my children. The principal and her staff were committed to creating a safe environment with a strong academic and extracurricular program for all students.

I am saddened regarding the recent incident you reported (“Boys Plotted Takeover Police Say” Oct. 9). Unfortunately, these incidents are becoming more than isolated in our schools and society. Parents are responsible for their children’s time and activities. Parents are responsible to teach their children right from wrong. They are responsible for their television viewing habits. A school’s first responsibility is to create a safe environment where children can learn.

Those who threaten this safety must face severe consequences.

SALLY BUTTERBAUGH ALVINO

Huntington Beach

* Teen-agers are getting a bad rap. When one makes a tragic mistake, such as the recent Marine View incident, it seems as if all teen-agers are lumped into the same category-- juvenile delinquents. If my only contact with kids was through the media, it would be hard not to have that outlook. My view of teen-agers, however, is a positive one.

As a public school teacher, I recently re-established contact with 30 of my former students who are now teen-agers. Each one is leaving a positive mark on society. One recent event is indicative of why my hopes for the future are high. I went to see one of my former students at a tennis match between two local high schools. During her match, she suffered a pulled muscle in her thigh and could hardly walk. She refused to quit and pulled out a victory in her doubles match that enabled her school to narrowly win. Isn’t it sad that I won’t be reading about her courage tomorrow on the front page of the newspaper?

JEFF GUFFEY

Laguna Niguel