University’s purpose

Re “Cal State mission drift,” Opinion, June 15

Naomi Schaefer Riley repeats some of the commonly misunderstood assumptions about “teaching” universities. The California State University is not a “teaching” system. It is officially classified as a comprehensive university that focuses on teaching and research.

The main flaw in Riley’s article is her polarization of the research and teaching functions in the university. For example, the National Science Foundation lists my school, Cal State Northridge, in the top 10 out of more than 500 comprehensive universities in the numbers of graduates in science and social science who go on to achieve doctoral degrees.

This is a direct result of the involvement of Cal State students in research, perhaps the best real-world teaching tool of all.

Steve Oppenheimer

Northridge

The writer, a biology professor at Cal State Northridge, is a recipient of the CSU Trustees’ Outstanding Professor Award.

As an adjunct instructor who teaches high school students in Orange County for a community college, I was gratified to read Riley’s analysis of the true value placed on teaching.

I love to teach history and writing but am unable to find a single place to teach that values what I do for each and every student one paper at a time. I refuse to give multiple-choice tests, only essays, and I assign weekly writings on the reading.

My university-level colleagues complain about the abilities of incoming freshmen, yet are unable to give them the time needed to help them improve. If we do not put into place a two-tier faculty system--one research, one teaching, but both paid equally--our college students will not be able to communicate on a level with other educated people in the world.

Eva Seraphin

Costa Mesa

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The major reason Cal State is failing is not because most teaching is done by part timers. Rather, too many students come unprepared and under-motivated, expecting continuation of their K-12 “study” pattern.

To truly improve universities, start improving K-12. Do not advance students who do not fully meet the requirements of their grade, and make high school selective with rigorous college prep requirements.

For those not able or willing to meet the higher demands or for those who wish to pursue careers that do not require a “standard” education, establish trade and technical schools that prepare their students for specific jobs/fields of work.

Colleges and universities are for rigorous academics, not high-school remedial classes.

Michael Wiener

Manhattan Beach

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Judging teachers in the LAUSD

Re “LAUSD’s report card,” Editorial, June 13

Attacking the tenure system and raises for teachers without even questioning the waste that occurs in the Los Angeles Unified School District’s administrative offices is incomprehensible. I kept reading the long editorial expecting the subject to be broached; it never was.

Teachers actually perform an essential function in the school system, and the average salary for them in Los Angeles is about $60,000. “Not too shabby” is often how this is described. But in reality this barely covers the basic costs of living in L.A. County.

Published tables of administrative salaries show scores of salaries soaring into six figures. What do those offices full of people actually accomplish? Why not call that system a waste of money?

Christine Kirk

San Clemente

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Just as it takes time for teachers to encourage and tutor students how to learn new material, acquire new skills, take responsibility and respect one another, it also takes time for teachers to develop in their fields. Activities that enhance teacher learning might consist of sharing lessons and problem-solving workshops that cover teaching techniques and methods of gauging student learning.

Unfortunately, morale-sapping meetings that consist of PowerPoint presentations provided by out-of-classroom personnel do little to foster growth. Where is the time for real student and teacher support?

Katharine Paull

Kagel Canyon

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Tenure does not give a teacher a job for life. Before tenure, teachers can be fired for almost any reason. After tenure, they have due process.

Secondly, standardized testing used to evaluate teachers is complete nonsense. Filling in bubbles randomly on a standardized test does not promote, demote or get students kicked out of a classroom.

Thirdly, getting a teaching degree is a rigorous, graduate-level process requiring students to teach under supervision of a college professor. Without mastering classroom-related teaching standards, a teaching degree is not awarded.

Ken Burton

Chino

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It is too easy to get hired by L.A. Unified? The number of hoops one must jump through is actually quite daunting, as anyone who has applied for a teaching position will tell you. The process is so rigorous that you would think you were applying for a job paying 10 times as much.

Charter schools often require applicants to go through multiple interviews with peers and to teach at least one sample lesson while being observed by an administrator. Nothing new here.

Charter school teachers are supposedly better. If so, then why isn’t there consistent evidence to show that charter schools produce better educated students?

Samuel Platts

Sylmar

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Healthcare comes up short

Re “Women losing years,” June 15

Another chunk out of the conventional wisdom of the GOP and the right is that the U.S. has the best healthcare in the world. Not true. We have the best high-end care, but according to the World Health Organization, the U.S. spends a higher proportion of our gross domestic product on healthcare than any other country in the world but ranks 37th in performance

We fall well short in caring for the daily needs of our citizens but put a lot of money into healthcare corporations’ pockets with little return for our dollars. Just about everyone is one serious illness from bankruptcy. This article is more proof of our failing system.

Mark Temple

Huntington Beach

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I couldn’t help but notice that the map of declining and increasing life expectancies in the U.S. looked a lot like the last “red state” election map.

Most of the declines were in states that voted for Republican legislators who now want to repeal healthcare. Those states can expect further declines if the “red state” legislators have their wish.

Pieter Vandenberg

El Cajon

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Isn’t it the same?

Re “Anthem rethinks fee for using credit cards,” Business, June 14

David Lazarus says that California law prohibits businesses from imposing a fee for credit card use, but that discounts for paying with cash or check are legal.

What’s the difference between selling an item for $10 and charging a $1 credit card fee, and raising the price to $11 and giving a $1 “discount” for paying with cash or check?

Bert Bigelow

Orange

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It’s all hate

Re “Nothing funny about hate,” Editorial, June 14

Nothing funny about hate? I couldn’t agree more. But who is and is not censured for nasty slurs depends on who the target is.

Trash gays or blacks and you win well-deserved disapproval.

Trash conservatives and win cheers from the media. Trash Mormons and win a Tony Award. Trash Christians and win respect from the “intellectual elite” on university campuses.

Social censure is a powerful weapon against hate speech. But shouldn’t equal hate receive equal disapproval?

Sylvia Alloway

Granada Hills

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Mixed feelings

Re “Quite a final act for these drama students,” June 14

How wonderful it is that the Willows Community School came to the aid of Culver City High School’s drama students and provided a performance space for a group of talented and tenacious theater kids.

How sad it is that a city that is home to Sony studios and Phoenix Pictures is unable to fund one theater teacher, let alone staff a complete program.

Ellen Sell

Alhambra