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Community must support education

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Re “Drop out? Not an option,” Dec. 9

Brava, Principal Marsha Coates, for incorporating a system of community instead of isolation for students at Birmingham High School. It appears that Coates and her staff have a genuine interest in the success of their students. Perhaps the interest and involvement will eventually pass on to the parents. I can’t help but think that as students see themselves as an integral part of their school community, parental involvement will follow. Good luck, Birmingham students.

REBECCA UDELL

Beverly Hills

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Birmingham dropout Tony Tacen works in construction. Appropriate courses like wood shop, machine shop and computer-aided drafting could have kept Tony in school. But these courses are long gone in many schools. The mantra is “everybody is going to college,” but only a small percentage of students who start junior college go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

It’s time to stop the feel-good high school programs and address the real needs of most of the urban students.

BOB MUNSON

Newbury Park

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