A Public Education Is Foundation of Society

Re “Irvine’s Many Avenues of Worship,” Jan. 26:

I read with pleasure that Irvine has progressed from an almost homogeneous population to a more heterogeneous population. I read with concern that many religious groups have built or are building private schools, which are probably open to anyone who has the desire and the funds to attend but, for the most part, will be attended by children of that particular group.

Our country owes much of its greatness to the public schools where most children of immigrant families attended and mingled with other first-generation children.

Many of those families were at the bottom of the economic ladder, but their children didn’t remain there. Their education and inclusion in the greater community enabled them to succeed. Most newcomers to Irvine are not economically deprived; however, it is even more important for their children to be part of a broad mainstream rather than a member of a homogeneous group.

Estelle Waslosky

Brea