Schools need to be efficient

Re “L.A. flunks science,” editorial, Nov. 20

The answer to the educational problem is not paying top teachers more. The answer is getting rid of the bloated bureaucracy and the teachers union, then purging the system of poor teachers and administrators and setting up a merit pay system for the good teachers and administrators who deliver the goods: well-educated students and good test scores.

In other words, the answer is to run the Los Angeles school district like a business. This district is delivering an inferior product (undereducated students) and in most industries, this would result in lots of people getting the boot and a massive restructuring.

But as long as the government is running this system while cowering in fear of the union, there will be no change.

JAMES B. DAVIS

Beverly Hills

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Ask any teacher who has been to Open Court Reading training why science scores are low. Coaches at OCR demand that teachers spend 2 1/2 to four hours a day on OCR, depending on the coach. When I first took the training, our group was told to teach OCR until 2 p.m.

Let’s see, the day starts about 8 a.m., ends about 2:30 p.m. for elementary school kids. Students need to be exposed to and learn science, math, arts, social studies and physical education. Schools put on assemblies, book fairs and field trips. I think the education officials need some new training in math in order to divide time between the disciplines more equitably.

JENNIFER ROBERTS

Torrance