Student Informants

* The L.A. Unified School District Board of Education will be hard put to spell out the difference between “reward” and “bribery” if it follows through on the suggestion to pay school kids $75 to snitch on weapons, drugs and sex offenses (Feb. 9).

This proposal could only come from people who are naive and superficial. Naive because they don’t grasp the dangers of informants being identified in spite of precautions, and pursued. Superficial because they are looking for a frantic “quick fix” for a deep societal problem.

Why not put up $75,000--on the premise that maybe as many as 1,000 might report some offense--and use it instead to begin to help kids, parents and teachers practice skills such as how to care for themselves and each other, and how to resolve conflicts without resorting to guns, drugs or sex. (There are such programs--some more honest and effective than others.)

Then, to match that, how about raising another $75,000 from corporations to build an earnest and practical job-training and employment program. Or spend it on supervised public facilities such as art, music and drama programs, gyms and swimming pools in deprived areas. Or pay concerned and experienced young adults to mentor youngsters without role models. Or hire more qualified classroom aides. But once again will programs that affirm hope and joy be bypassed as “too expensive” or “too difficult” or “takes too long”?

Bribery is not something we should be sponsoring in our schools and communities.

JEAN S. GERARD

Temple City

* Does anyone detect a dichotomy? Professional educators seem to be unable to design an educational process (without resorting to bribery) that will result in students being partners in working toward safe schools. This is moral bankruptcy on the part of the school board.

Besides, it won’t work. Some of those students who are corruptible will dishonestly reap the payoffs and the district will be compelled to spend funds to ferret out the truth of each case.

A nine-month study of federal courts has discovered that “something has gone horribly, fatally wrong,” as reported in “Use of Snitches Out of Control” (Feb. 13).

JUNE PAYNE

Pacific Palisades

* The article used the words “informants” and “snitches.” Why is this being approached in such negative terms? We should be considered as responsible citizens if we report illegal activities.

ROSLYN HARRIS

Ventura

* I am surprised you would even consider that a student drug reporting program is acceptable (editorial, Feb. 10). Drug users and dealers are not exactly choir-persons. The first murder fatality of an innocent student for reporting would certainly end the program. Why put innocent kids at risk for a few dollars? The drug situation is a horrendous problem but that program is not a viable way to fight it.

DENTON A. POTTER

Los Angeles