Source of Student’s Success

Re “A Scholar and a Role Model,” Dec. 12.

As a former Taft High teacher, I was very interested in the editorial comments about Melissa Sturm’s being named a Rhodes scholar. However, I must disagree with the former counselor’s comment about Melissa being “other-directed” as a misuse of the term. Melissa owes her success to herself, not to others; she owes it to her goals, her sacrifice and her supportive parents. Were she “other-directed,” she would hardly have achieved her level of success.

I’m also concerned about the last sentence in the editorial. Valley schools have little to “take heart” from the extraordinary achievements of one individual. The vast majority of students remain unmotivated, disinterested in learning and incapable of setting long-term goals that require personal sacrifice. Public education is a basket case, and without drastic reforms, it’s going to continue that way.

ABRAHAM HOFFMAN

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