Recovery Money Needed for Teachers

* Calahan Street School in Northridge needs earthquake recovery money--not for repairing a building or replacing equipment and not for ordering supplies or even preparing for the next quake, although it has these material needs just like most of the other quake-affected schools in the L. A. Unified School District.

This elementary school, like several others in the area of the epicenter, needs recovery money for a pressing human emergency. It is about to lose several of its teachers because of the number of students forced out of the area by the devastation to their homes and apartments.

Safe buildings, freshly painted; new equipment replacing what is damaged or worn-out--these things are important. But let’s remember that a school is a community that primarily consists of the interaction between teacher and student. Education could take place in an open field, if necessary.

It sometimes seems that money in our district is spent on everything but the essential ingredient to a successful school--the teacher. Let’s take this opportunity presented by the needs of this school to say that we understand what is important to our communities’ recovery and at the same time provide some stability, continuity and security by allowing Calahan Street School to keep the teachers the students know and love.

Our dishes can be replaced, our homes and buildings repaired, but the bond of trust between a teacher and student is irreplaceable.

MICHAEL VETRIE

Sylmar