The mayor’s school plan is the wrong answer

Re “Mayor’s School Plan Prevails,” Aug. 30

Regarding Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his desire to take over the Los Angeles Unified School District, I cannot grasp why anyone would think that the mayor would hold the key to solving such an immense problem. As far as I know, Villaraigosa was a high school dropout and has no actual experience in education reform leadership.

As a retired educator with 35 years of experience, I strongly suggest that he ask someone with experience for guidance. Having a new board of mayors to also have a say is laughable. The existing school board is apparently thinking about a lawsuit to stop the takeover, no doubt at taxpayers’ expense.

Good luck to all involved.

FRED HARDY

Laguna Beach

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As a lifelong liberal, and proud of it, and a teacher with L.A. Unified, I found myself in complete agreement with the two common-sense Republicans who had the guts to call [the mayor’s school plan] what it is: “a usurping of power” that “may actually cause more deterioration.”

Their words were clear and concise, unlike the pap from all of the sycophants spouting off meaningless buzzwords.

Shame on the mayor, the legislators and the teachers union for this terrible, hopefully unlawful legislation. Shame on them for pandering and posing and building political capital by pretending this outright power grab is “the solution.” Just like everything else in life, it’s a complicated problem with a complicated solution.

This isn’t it.

TERRY SNYDER

Los Angeles

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Re “From bad to worse?” editorial, Aug. 28

As a retired teacher with more than 30 years of classroom experience, I am well attuned to what makes a classroom tick. Giving bureaucrats decision-making power regarding matters of academic success and then blaming teachers and principals when things go awry (transferring or firing them, not the decision makers) “blurs responsibility and muddles decision making” big time and lies at the root of many of public education’s woes.

Decision-making power regarding academic success belongs in the hands of experienced classroom teachers, if they are expected to be held responsible for results.

JANE WILLIAMS FLEMING

Belmont Shore