Soccer Field Controversy

What gives? Your page B1 on April 22 carried a lead article dealing with the supposedly controversial placement of new playground equipment at Harrington Elementary in the Oxnard School District (“Planned Site of School Playground Causes Stir”). In the eyes of soccer coach and teacher Juan Mora, such placement would make soccer cramped and possibly dangerous. Since “soccer is an important part of our culture, our community--and this is an anti-soccer move,” such a decision would be “an attack on Latinos” and even an extension of Proposition 187.

Such explosive charges surely deserved extensive follow-up.

Instead of balanced, thoughtful coverage of the following school board meeting resolving this issue, the April 24 paper carried a scant six paragraphs buried inside indicating unanimous acceptance of this “controversial” plan. Mr. Mora’s allegations of racial prejudice were softened to “seeing this decision as insensitive to Latino needs.”

I suppose Proposition 187 might be described as “insensitive,” if one had a very dry sense of humor.

In actuality, Principal Dan D’Incau spent countless months interacting with the parents of Harrington students, the police and interested community members to coordinate the fund-raising and inter-agency cooperation to bring about desperately needed improvements in the school’s recreational facilities.

In actuality, four of the five Oxnard school board members are of Hispanic descent. Surely a unanimous decision to approve this plan underlines the spurious nature of Mora’s hysterical charges.

To Mr. Mora, I say soccer is not just dear to Latino hearts. As a devoted soccer Mom and past AYSO assistant referee, I can assure you that thousands of people of all colors and nationalities love the game.

I am sorry if the Harrington improvements interfere with after-school and weekend enjoyment of the game. However, the primary purpose of your school is to meet the needs of the children it educates.

To Mr. D’Incau, the parents, the police, the Seabees and the countless others who so selflessly gave of their time, money and experience to bring about the improvements, thank you.

When any of our children benefit, society as a whole benefits as well. Through our children we touch the future.

I am only one of many who salute you all.

PATRICIA McGOVERN-WINTERSTEEN, Ventura