Qualified Teachers Can’t Find Jobs

After reading Judith Backover’s letter (Aug. 14) concerning the state’s teacher shortage, I must write to express my agreement with her. My daughter-in-law is a well-educated and talented teacher. She has five years of experience outside California, completed all her requirements for an in-state credential and has a master’s degree with an emphasis on reading. She has been trying for a year and a half to find a full-time position. Where are these jobs?

How can a state whose test scores are so low when compared to other less affluent states turn down such qualified people as Ms. Backover and my daughter-in-law? Maybe too much of our taxpayers’ money is stopping in the district offices or being spent on the latest “politically correct” classes.

Stop crying wolf! Hire the best you can find!

Cynthia Marshall

Placentia

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“The New Import: Teachers” (Aug. 10) was disturbing for two reasons. It is not a matter of pride that our country cannot produce a sufficient number of educators to serve our population, and it is unconscionable to raid other countries, many Third World, of their educational resources.

Education is the key to civilized society. How can we expect Third World countries to improve their condition if we lure away their means of doing so? The children of these countries, deprived of a balanced education, will not go unschooled. The Bin Ladens will take over the responsibility and we will not be happy with the result.

Kenneth L. Cantwell

Yorba Linda

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Re “L.A. District Finds Extra $228 Million on the Books,” Aug. 10: The LAUSD “found” $228 million that might have continued to provide group counseling to 250 students in four schools, preventing dropouts in May-June 2002. What an outrage for the students who were told the program of group counseling “ran out of money.”

David Rappoport

PSA Group Counselor, LAUSD

Marina del Rey