School and Home

* I couldn’t help but notice the relationship between two articles in the Presidents Day issue (Feb. 17): “Truancy and Consequences” by James Ricci and “2 Children Critically Hurt by Gang Bullets” by John Gonzales. I recognize the attraction of affiliation with negative alternatives outside the home-school environment. Marcela Tarquino-Klossner, an LAUSD attendance counselor, identifies the situation as being often related to emotional insecurities by both the student and parent(s). In the beginning, the kids want to do well and their parents want them to do well. In some families this consensus gets lost.

Statistics alone do not point toward a solution for all in this basic problem, which can have grave future costs for the student, the family and the community. Family makeup, economic standing and geographical living quarters alone do not preclude success. Our community priorities would be well served when antisocial or underachieving behavior is acknowledged by the home-school network. There must be effective, ongoing communications between the home and the school. Parents and schools must maintain this effort. Genuine and consistent recognition of effort and achievement, both at home and at school, can lead toward success.

JACK SCHICKETANZ

La Crescenta