L.A. Schools Controversy

Re “Groups Press District to Rescind Zacarias Move,” Oct. 20: So the Latino Legislative Caucus, the Black Legislative Caucus and key Latino civil rights organizations are demanding that the L.A. school board rescind Howard Miller’s appointment as CEO. Where were these groups as our students’ reading scores slid to some of the lowest in the country? Where were these groups as class sizes soared to some of the largest in the country? Where were these groups while our children were learning in rundown, overcrowded schools, being taught by uncredentialed teachers?

TOM IANNUCCI

Los Angeles

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Tom Hayden has written an insightful article explaining how the emphasis that has been placed on race is making life miserable for everyone trying to improve the quality of education in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Commentary, Oct. 19). Whites are ganging up on Supt. Ruben Zacarias, while Latinos, led by state Sen. Richard Polanco, are defending him. Neither side will admit race is the dominating issue, which, of course, it is. Hayden concludes no one should be blamed, but admits the students are the victims.

Tom, they can and should be blamed. Until people who use the race card are called racists, we will never get beyond the issue and solve the myriad of problems facing us. Don’t be so understanding, just keep thinking of the children.

RALPH S. BRAX

Lancaster

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Who does Hayden refer to when he mentions the “Latino community”? Does he honestly believe that we are so united to be constituted as a community? Believe me, if there were such a thing as Latino unity, California’s political representation would surely reflect our numbers.

Could Hayden’s “insight” over the Latino/Zacarias ruckus possibly be due to his mayoral loss to Richard Riordan, where he lost out to the majority of Latino voters?

DIANA SISTOS

Northridge