Teaching English

What Roger Rasmussen has said in his article (“Begin by Teaching Kids English in Preschool,” Commentary, Aug. 30) is probably the most important thing that’s been said about education in years. Without knowing how to speak, read and write English, children haven’t much chance to achieve anything in this society. I applaud Rasmussen’s courage in saying it, in view of the Latino insistence on bilingual classes.

Unfortunately, non-English-speaking children in this city are used as pawns in a political struggle for power; so the chances of getting that year of pre-kindergarten English instruction--the time and space required--are practically nil. If the politics could be removed from the issue we might accomplish something positive for children and for our society.

SUE ALEXANDER

Canoga Park