Reading and Writing

As a former high school teacher in the San Fernando Valley, I must take exception to the June 8 article “Study Finds Johnny Can’t Write Too Well.”

The students I taught were very competent writers. Ninth-graders I found to be proficient in the narrative form, although lacking somewhat in mechanics; and I found 12th-graders to be more than competent in the persuasive form.

I will admit, students do seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in front of the tube instead of the book but to blatantly label all students, or even a majority of students, as poor writers, is a fallacy as far as this reader is concerned.

GREG SHORE

Pasadena

* Based on your recent reports, it appears that television and society have been more effective in teaching Johnny how to shoot than the school and family in teaching him how to write.

ROGER NEWELL

La Jolla