No Negatives at Dana School

* Regarding your article “Changing the Equation” on Oct. 14: Unfortunately, you choose to paint a very one-sided picture of R.H. Dana Elementary. I have kept my daughter at this school for six years, not only because she has had excellent teachers, loves her teachers and the school, and scores very well on district achievement tests, but also because of the school’s diversity. There are underprivileged children, over-privileged children and a great many who fall in between. I perceive Mr. Gerhard’s task to be making a good school even better, not taking an inferior school and bringing it up to standard. California has a culture that is rich and diverse. Rather than protect my daughter from it, I want her to respect, enjoy and learn from it.

SHEILA VAUGHN

Dana Point

* Your Oct. 14 Metro article on Dave Gerhard, new principal at R.H. Dana Elementary School in Dana Point, was very slanted and gave a negative image of R.H. Dana that we disagree with.

Our older son, who attended kindergarten through sixth grades at R.H. Dana, and our younger son, currently in the sixth grade, have received a first-rate education due to an excellent teaching and administrative staff, as well as supportive parent volunteers and PTA. Both of our boys have had motivated, caring teachers who have prepared them well to succeed in middle school and beyond.

We want to stress that R.H. Dana has always provided a wonderful learning environment for our children. And we welcome Mr. Gerhard and his ideas to enhance R.H. Dana’s curriculum this year.

DON and BETTY BLATNIK

Dana Point