Teachers Living Near Students

* Re “2 Teachers Live in Watts to Learn About Their Students,” May 5: It was wonderful to read a story about people in my neighborhood that was so uplifting; about white people, even with their fears, who were courageous enough to come and live among us.

I’ve lived here for nearly 26 years and I’m learning how good it feels to say hello to neighbors; to experience the goodwill that I feel toward them and to sense that they feel the same for me. It has been 26 years of agonizing growth for me, at times. At first, I very much wanted things to be much different than the way they were.

I commend John Gust and Meghan McChesney for their demonstration of courage in coming to share our existence; to experience the agony and the ecstasy that we, as residents, must need to embrace.

ERCELL H. HOFFMAN

Compton

* Several years ago, thinking she was going to attend graduate school at USC, my daughter bought a rundown Craftsman-style house in South-Central Los Angeles, which she refurbished and lived in for several years. During the time she lived there, she learned about other ethnic people as she participated in the activities in the neighborhood. When she had to leave Los Angeles, she rented her home to two young Caucasian people who are having a similar experience.

I believe that living among others is how we will really learn about getting along.

ELAINE M. SENSIPER

Los Angeles