College Faculty Acted Like Children
* I was amused by the story about the faculty and students of Los Angeles Valley College condemning Mary Lee, the college president, for reopening the college as scheduled (Feb. 11).
One can expect the students to behave like the children they are. Missing school is a treat. But the faculty behaved like petulant adolescents.
The instructors wanted postponement of the opening because of responsibilities to family and friends. I wonder if they would have voted the same way if their considerable salaries were docked for the days they missed because of the earthquake, as happened to so many others not in the education business.
Congratulations to President Lee for making the right decision. In the time of turmoil, going to classes and being responsible for learning gave some structure and a touch of normalcy to the students’ lives. Community college faculties always babble about “shared governance” but never about shared responsibility.
M. STEPHEN SHELDON
Studio City
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