Prep Program Is About Economics, Not Schools

Re “Santa Ana Pupils Look East,” Oct. 29:

The Times misses the point of the association between the Santa Ana Unified School District and the “A Better Chance” program sponsored by several New England and California prep schools. The Times implies that it is an inability on the school district’s part in educating its youth when in fact the real issues revolve around economics and opportunities.

“A Better Chance” means giving children from all over America the same opportunities that used to be available only to the wealthy. Many of the youth of Santa Ana simply do not fit into the economic demographics of the “normal” profile of a prep school student. With the prep school’s monetary help, the Santa Ana students can sidestep this obstacle and enjoy a wider range of educational experiences.

Besides Santa Ana, the prep schools held their fairs at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar and the Hilton Irvine, but no comment was made by The Times about these school systems. Since many children from these two cities will go on to private prep schools, should that be taken as an indication that these cities’ schools are not meeting the needs of their top students either? Of course, it should not! It just means that these kids live where economic demographics are much better and so are the opportunities.

The Times should not fault a school district for going beyond its boundaries in trying to provide educational experiences for its students that might normally be denied them due to family economic dynamics. Instead, The Times should be commending the Santa Ana Unified district’s efforts with no “mixed emotions” strings attached.

Dan Bertsch

Peggy Encheff

Maria Colmenares

Teachers and counselor

Santa Ana Unified School District