Tutoring Jossue

Re “A Tutor Tries to Make a Difference,” June 30: Times staff writer Duke Helfand is to be commended for offering his valuable time tutoring second-grader Jossue, who is a student at Rosemont Avenue Elementary School in Echo Park. Helfand’s frustration, along with that of classroom teacher Arleen Irvin and the generous volunteers of Wonder of Reading, is understandable.

It is quite likely that Jossue has a learning disability that exhibits itself academically and now behaviorally in the classroom. Why hasn’t Jossue been referred to LAUSD for a comprehensive assessment for special-education services as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act? Jossue needs professional intervention by teachers and psychologists who are trained and highly skilled in serving learning-disabled students. Jossue, you are not failing second grade. LAUSD is failing you.

CAROLE SLUCKI

Los Angeles

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Helfand’s story was a sobering look at the realities of teaching in Los Angeles. As a second-grade teacher with the LAUSD, I have a couple of observations:

Helfand hit on a great way to help Jossue learn words: singing and rhyming them. It’s a method that veteran teachers use often, with great success. However, he should know that the LAUSD has just made a five-year commitment to the Open Court language arts series. Open Court’s tight structure does not allow for singing and rhyming, or other similar classroom-tested methods for teaching reading. If Helfand were an LAUSD teacher, the one thing that really worked for him and Jossue could not even be attempted.

After his exhausting, frustrating experience, I wonder how Helfand feels about the district’s attempt to institute merit pay for teachers. Just like tens of thousands of us in LAUSD, he gave his all in time and effort. Jossue’s behavior problems, lack of effort and even premature birth are cited as possible contributions to his inability to read. Yet the district would make the teacher the scapegoat for all of these ills.

KIRK JORDAN

Long Beach

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I hope reading Helfand’s article moves everyone to help in the tutoring program in our schools. The children gain, you will love it and in the long run it will make a difference in our society. I wouldn’t miss Wednesday mornings at Hamlin School in West Hills.

KAREN HUNT

Woodland Hills