Ruben Zacarias

Our new superintendent has chosen to focus on the 100 lowest performing schools (July 1). If children are the priority, what about the children at school No. 101? Don’t they deserve the super- intendent’s special attention? Why not 85 schools or 113? Are we to believe that the budget allows for focus on 100 schools, but not on 105 schools? Absurd as usual.

Ruben Zacarias chose 100 because it sounds good and because he doesn’t choose to cast a light on district-wide problems with performance. What would the numbers be like if Zacarias chose some standard that had nothing to do with a cutoff number like 100? The 68th Street School is 93rd on the list, but I remain committed to my school.

WILL OLLIFF

Fifth Grade Teacher

68th Street School, LAUSD

So Zacarias has begun his superintendent’s reign with a bang. Unfortunately, it is on the heads of a great majority of the teachers, students and people of South-Central Los Angeles. Our new superintendent assures us that it’s “not meant to be a punitive action” or “imply incompetence,” but it does. If I were to announce to my classes and the surrounding community the 10 worst, stupidest or lowest students (pick your pejorative) I teach in order to help them improve, I’d be hauled into the principal’s office for blatant insensitivity and cruelty to children.

Wouldn’t it have been better to single out the 100 best teachers at these difficult school sites to determine what successful people are actually doing in turning these schools around? Perhaps Zacarias, in his first call to action, could have designated emergency zones where family counselors, therapists, college students and philanthropic agencies could donate their time and money. Or how about a call to the National Guard to keep these schools safe?

ALFEE ENCISO, Teacher

Crenshaw High, LAUSD

“If you depend on schools alone to teach reading, kids are never going to be good readers.” This sentence is the most important of the entire story. Everyone, from parents to ministers to rap stars to coaches, must become involved in establishing the importance of reading to all of our children. Or else all the brouhaha will come to nothing.

GENE R. TOUCHET

English Teacher

Franklin High, LAUSD