School Reform and Parents

Les Birdsall’s “Will Reforms Defy the Past?” (Opinion, April 4) was both interesting and thought-provoking, but, like many other articles, omits the most important factor in improving education in California--the parents. Schools were never designed to be the sole source of learning for children.

Schools only have control of students on certain days for limited hours. For students to be successful, additional time outside of class is required. Truly successful students are guided by their parents and supported by their teachers. This is not to say that there is no room for improvement in schools; certainly schools could do a better job. But no reform of the current system or even a complete overhaul of the educational system will be successful without the full participation of parents in the process.

COLIN VAN GORDER

Temple City

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Re “Few Hold Positive View of L.A. School Board,” April 4: I have been a teacher with Los Angeles Unified for over 20 years, and a Times poll affirms the opinions held by many teachers in the district. The poll found that parents credit teachers as being the reason for successful schools! This seems like common sense, but it is often overlooked in reform measures taken by school districts to improve students’ test scores.

We all agree that student performance is our goal. Here is the solution: Hire the best teachers available, support them in every way possible and pay them enough to keep them. Simple. When I say support, I mean that every school district employee should be mandated to assist the classroom teacher in educating students.

CHUCK TRUDEAU

Shadow Hills

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The Times should stick to reporting the news and not interpreting it. One could easily look at the pie chart on the front page and rightly say 60% of the public rates L.A.’s schools excellent, good or fair, rather than interpret the chart the negative way, as you did. In fact, the chart is even more positive if you look at the results for parents with children in school.

Yes, we admit that schools do have problems, and yes, there is still a lot more to do, but everything is not gloom and doom.

ED KROJANSKY

Van Nuys