One Parent Versus the Glendale School Board

Re “Mother Fights Schools on Cable TV,” Jan. 2: Fascinating! An immigrant mother exercises her free-speech rights and the school officials don’t like it. Why am I not surprised? Reading between the lines, it’s pretty clear that regardless of the job the Glendale school board does in educating the children, it does an abysmally lousy job of communicating with the parents.

I guess it wouldn’t be possible for the board to cough up $500 to $800 for a rebuttal. Or how about a letter to the parents explaining the policies and procedures?

Here’s a brilliant idea: Get a volunteer to translate it into Armenian so the parents can read it and know what’s going on. I have no idea if Naira Khachatrian is right, wrong or over the edge, but she’s getting their attention for sure. Good for her.

Richard Shilling

Pacific Palisades

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As a first-generation Armenian American who worked diligently to learn the English language, I am deeply dismayed that activist Naira Khachatrian has the audacity to confront the Glendale Unified School District for establishing English-learner programs and special education classes that are meant to empower and assist students.

Further, I am outraged that Khachatrian juxtaposed school district officials with the perpetrators of the Armenian genocide. Far from being “scared of her,” as the pastor asserts, one can only pity her for her mischief and lost cause.

Mihran Toumajan

Los Angeles

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Khachatrian is demanding answers from the Glendale school board and superintendent that should be a normal part of the district’s reporting process.

Most revealing in the article is Supt. Michael Escalante’s response. By drawing parallels to Jerry Springer, readers can understand what we have to contend with in Glendale -- a board and a superintendent that ridicule and bully those who are seeking opportunities to improve the plight of their families and children.

According to the article, board President Greg Krikorian claims to have organized forums. This is just a convenient way for the district to pacify us.

Meanwhile, Khachatrian continues her crusade, but do not underplay the role of the others who are mentioned in the article. In particular, I’d like to emphasize the contributions of Father Vazken Movsesian, who has dared to advocate for students and parents who are without voice.

The frustrations in Glendale are many, and I thank you for sharing some of those with your readers.

Henry Moroyan

Glendale