Performance of Catholic Schools

In light of your report that “Many Latinos Fare Better in Catholic Schools” (Aug. 3), one must ask why two archdiocesan high schools in the downtown area have been closed, leaving the densely Latino region between Sacred Heart High School in Lincoln Heights and Catholic Girls School on Pico Boulevard with no Catholic secondary education for girls.

What a service to the community and to the vigor of its future congregations if the archdiocese would again open Our Lady of Loretto High School, which from its central location could easily serve 400 to 500 central city youth.

GLORIA RICCI LOTHROP

Northridge

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Your article was a valuable contribution to the debates about education quality. Public school administrators and the teachers union should examine the Catholic schools for ideas they might adopt. Your article did fairly point out that some beneficial practices, such as kicking out bad actors, aren’t realistic for the public folks.

One bit of balance was surprisingly absent from the article. It spoke to the Catholic schools’ mission without telling us that the primary mission is to propagate the faith. Education is a means to gaining or strengthening adherents to the Catholic Church. This is of great importance, since it is at the root of why funneling tax dollars to religious schools, via vouchers or otherwise, is unconstitutional. To avoid further fragmenting our great country, let’s hope it stays that way.

STANFORD TAYLOR

Pasadena