Best Education Is Not Always Public

* This letter is in response to your Nov. 12 column “Preserving the ‘Public’ in the Schools.” It is fine to celebrate American Education Week. I agree that “an education is a precious possession.” However, I feel it was unfair of Jacqueline Price to gather all parents who, as she put it, bash public education or acclaim the virtues of school vouchers into one neat little pile and make them responsible for all the ills of the public education system.

In our case, we were very involved at our public school. [But] after seven years of effort on our part, unmet expectations, disregarded demands and unanswered questions, we--as responsible parents--made the decision that, regardless of the financial expense, we could no longer afford to settle for less than what we decided was a quality education for our children.

By quality, I mean that what we looked for was a return to the “three Rs,” not every other period doing enrichment lessons. Public education has missed the point on this concept altogether. These activities should round out a child’s basic education, not take the place of it.

By quality, I mean that every child should have textbooks from which to do homework. It is well-recognized that practicing a skill learned in the classroom reinforces lessons and gives the child a base upon which to build.

By quality, I mean that 90% of a teacher’s time is not spent on problems related to overcrowded classrooms, children that do not speak English and behavior problems. The message that public education gives is that if you are not gifted, do not cause disruptions in the classroom or have command of the English language, then there are no resources for you.

I agree that public school teachers are, for the most part, devoted educators who are underpaid and overworked. But this still is no excuse for me, as a responsible parent, if it is financially possible, to not consider alternatives to a public education for my children.

MARY ANN BONFIGLIO

Mission Viejo

* Now a senior in high school, I have experienced firsthand the public school system in action. Loyal to the Capistrano school district, I have witnessed great change in a school’s effectiveness. During my elementary years, parents would be a mainstay in our classrooms, adding a great feeling of warmth. At the high school level, I don’t see this participation anymore and feel it is a detriment to the learning process.

I firmly believe in Jacqueline Price’s views and strongly urge adults to volunteer time at their local public school facility.

WILL SMITH

Laguna Niguel