Extremist Trustees Also Must Learn

The blatant exercise in self-aggrandizement written by Orange Unified Trustee Maureen Aschoff (Orange County Voices, “School Boards Also Must Be Good Learners,” Sept. 27) is nearly as laughable as President Clinton lecturing on political ethics.

Aschoff belongs to her district’s extremist school board majority, which is known far and wide for blurring the distinction between objective educational decisions and partisan politics, championing far-right causes and adopting divisive policies that alienate parents and frustrate teachers, administrators and support staff.

There are many examples of this board’s lack of professionalism and absence of credibility. As a parent, I have attended many Orange school board meetings in which confrontation rather than collaboration drove most decision making.

Such actions are disappointing to parents wanting quality schools and become a compelling reason for record numbers of faculty and principals to flee the district for better pay and working conditions.

Adding to the board’s resume of dubious achievements, let us not forget the elimination of valuable elementary school counseling services, the botched attempt to privatize school bus services and the appointment of political allies to key district oversight positions--without inviting applications.

Aschoff and her school board colleagues should practice what they preach. Until then, the school board majority in Orange Unified deserves a grade of F as learners.

ALAN TRUDELL

Anaheim Hills

* Aschoff is apparently resentful of much that passes for discourse in our community. To progress we must learn, and very often that involves interaction with those with whom we don’t always agree.

Our country is built upon diverse factions: varying political parties among which there are disagreements, labor-management discourses that lead to agreements often involving compromise. John F. Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage” described the ways in which agreements are reached.

It would seem that our local school boards would do well to trust the give-and-take involved in all governing bodies to achieve results effective for the community.

ANN R. BIEN

Anaheim