Culture clash

Re “What if a school refuses to pledge its allegiance?” column, Feb. 5

It is obvious that Semillas del Pueblo’s agenda is not to aid the students’ ability to assimilate and become productive American citizens. Bob Sipchen’s “what the heck” three-quarters of the way through the article was a shock. Apparently he’s unaware that our public schools already inexplicably teach the history of other cultures before our own and that for some reason we taxpayers should pony up more dough to move children even further away from American heritage and culture.

Whether it comes from runaway liberal guilt or a shared disdain for “e pluribus unum” and a desire for its opposite -- out of one, many -- his attitude is a mystery to me.

PENNY PEYSER

Woodland Hills