Day-Care Center

* Jim Newton’s “When Rules Matter More Than Common Sense, Nobody Wins” (May 22) reveals a disturbing lack of vision and, in my view, represents an unwarranted attack not on the “bureaucracy” but on certain employees of the California Department of Social Services who are actually identified by name. It’s doubtful that the operators of the family day care center were motivated to enroll half again as many students as permitted by law simply because they love children and feel sorry for working parents; the 50% increase in revenue would have a certain appeal, too. The parents were willing to overlook the crowded conditions as long as their child-care problem was, for the moment, solved.

Newton perceives that we live in a time when rules matter more than people and feels sad. I understand that certain standards must apply if we are to protect our children and am angered when day-care operators and parents such as Newton prefer to disregard the rules.

SUSAN WHITE

Los Angeles