Teacher Deserves Privacy

Re “All the News That’s Fit to Print and Won’t Upset the Faculty,” Commentary, July 7: It sickens me that Naldy Estrada and Julio Robles would write “we had many sleepless nights” in reference to their article being killed. The only sleepless one was Jacqueline Domac, who had to endure the Venice High School paparazzi for a month. These “reporters” chased her around campus, busting into her class to “get an exclusive” against her wishes and snapping photos of her back as she walked away.

This story was an all-out war against Domac. All year she had endured countless articles in the paper attacking her hard work banning junk food from our campus. When the students got sick of attacking the ban, they found a 10-year-old story in which Domac was not proved to have done anything illegal in regard to her relationship with Edward Furlong. I believe I speak for the entire faculty at Venice High (with the exception of the sponsor of the newspaper) in saying that Domac has our support.

Scott Burstein

Venice High School

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It is unfortunate that The Times did not use the same good judgment that Venice High School used when it refused to print Estrada and Robles’ expose of Domac’s personal life.

While most of my income comes from the very fast-food industry whose policies Domac opposes, I believe that the authors would have served their cause better by presenting a case against the policies, not by impeaching the advocate.

Bernard S. Otis

Encino

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As a teacher I am astounded that one of my peers would encourage students to use the arena of a school newspaper as a venue for tabloid journalism. All of the so-called “facts” about Domac’s past seem to be an unethical detour from the journalistic-investigation trail that these students and their advisor self-righteously proclaim they are on.

Where is the story of Domac’s successful teaching career and her inspired achievements to gain a more nourishing diet for the student body? Where is the story about the neighborhood garden project on this campus that involves students, parents, faculty and community members? Where is the story regarding her sponsorship of Venice High’s Peace Club? Isn’t it time that dedicated teachers and community activists are recognized for their spirited contributions and not persecuted for having a private life?

Joann Carrabbio

San Pedro