Ridicule

* While I was saddened by the stories of students who have no appropriate school clothes and heartened by the efforts of volunteers to provide them with shoes and other items (Feb. 20), I was also angered by a recurring theme in the article. These children have been repeatedly ridiculed by their classmates.

Who are these selfish brats making fun of these children? If I ever found out my 13-year-old had made fun of someone at school because of a lack of fashionable clothes or footwear, his punishment would be both swift and unpleasant.

Why don’t all of us with school-age children make an effort to talk to our kids about good manners, sensitivity and kindness? Charity begins at home.

MELINDA GAIL

Northridge