Were students walking out or stepping up?

Re “True Student Rebels Won’t Walk Out,” column, May 1

Bob Sipchen objects to students joining walkouts for immigrant rights and decries their poor education as a more vital issue. He assigns blame to the Los Angeles Unified School District, illegal immigrants and students.

But in the 1960s and before, California already had plenty of undocumented workers -- and the country’s best schools. And sure, Proposition 13 dramatically reduced funding for California schools, but many poor communities have well-educated kids. So why are our kids poorly educated? Who has the duty to be the kid’s primary source for motivated learning? From where should kids get a sense of inquiry, irony, empathy, discipline and civic involvement?

At least with these student walkouts, kids show interest in civic affairs and seek to act against a bad status quo, unlike many so-called adults. If kids lack perspective and resources, is it their fault? Or their parents’?

DAVID FERTIG

Pasadena