Paying Back the Taxpayers

* The article on Gladys Battle (“A Higher Degree of Determination,” May 11) deserves some comment. While it is certainly laudable that Battle has persevered to earn her degree at Cal Lutheran University, is it also laudable that she quit her job and went on welfare to do it? Is this an example that others should follow?

Battle said she expects to “earn $60,000 one of these days.” I hope she does. I also hope she uses some of her earnings to pay back the taxpayers. Now that would be a story.

ROGER McGRATH

Thousand Oaks