Do the Math

“Money Matters Become Elementary for These Students” (June 8) is another illustration of what is wrong with public education: Schools engage in popular programs that look good in the paper rather than teach students basic arithmetic and algebraic skills. At this time, young adults enter college without being able to do either, or to add 3 and 7 or multiply 4 by 5. This is no exaggeration. Students would be better served if schools concentrated on education. With a good education, survival skills, including preparing tax forms, are easily learned when the need arises.

Pauli Peter

Los Angeles