Spielberg, Wilson at Oakland School

* I am a sixth-grader who goes to a middle school in Santa Monica. I was appalled to read in the newspaper the offensive remarks of Kandi Stewart (April 12), the student body president of Castlemont High School in Oakland whose students laughed during the movie “Schindler’s List.” Her statements were offensive because they insulted the governor of California. Even if she does not like him, I think some respect should be given. It is not right to attack someone who is a guest in the school, especially one who is of such great importance to the state.

Those teachers who don’t want to read about the Holocaust are being extremely selfish. They only want to teach about whatever their heritage is. This self-centeredness is what is wrong with America.

DAVID GREENBERG

Santa Monica

* I guess it’s a sign of the times when a teacher isn’t ashamed to say that her students “don’t know where Germany or Europe are” . . . she probably doesn’t know herself! I think the school system was better off with geography and history classes versus the supposedly all-encompassing social studies. The tenor of the statements from the teachers at Castlemont is indicative of why the United States is slowly sinking to the bottom of the world’s education ladder.

MARLENE PIVNICK

Reseda

* How disappointing of The Times to cover the announcement of the “Schindler’s List” education project as a political story full of inaccuracies and distortions.

The facts are: Gov. Pete Wilson signed legislation requiring the teaching of both the Holocaust and slavery in California schools two years before “Schindler’s List” was filmed; the governor’s legislation was the stimulus for Steven Spielberg’s collaborating on this project with the governor--a project that brings the film to 16,000 California 10th- and 11th-graders each week at no cost to the state or the students; over 30 other states are already duplicating the California “Schindler’s List” project because of personal marketing and support by both Wilson and Spielberg.

The distortions are: On March 15, Castlemont High School accepted an invitation to host the announcement of the statewide “Schindler’s List” project. Immediately, after the publicity linking Castlemont and “Schindler’s List,” Castlemont’s principal, Ellen Posey, promised to introduce Holocaust education into the school curriculum. As a result, Wilson presented Castlemont High School with a statewide “Courage to Care Award,” and Spielberg agreed to visit the campus. Neither the governor nor Spielberg came to Castlemont without cause.

Perhaps the most astounding distortion is your reporting of a hostile question posed by one student. The Times did not report the governor’s full answer, which concluded that he came to the school to respect their dignity and had hoped they would respect his. This line goes to the heart of the “Schindler’s List” project; it is time to try to teach Californians to respect each other’s backgrounds, differences and dignity.

ROSALIE ZALIS, Senior Policy

Adviser to Gov. Pete Wilson

Los Angeles