Dear Gay -- Readers discuss education columns

Gay Geiser-Sandoval should stick to education (“Operation to calm

terrorism may hurt education system,” Sept. 25) and not give opinions on

terrorism today. Comparing terrorists to ants shows her total lack of

understanding of today’s most serious attack on our civilization. Her

idea is to sit back, do nothing and let the ants, i.e. terrorists, take

over. On second thought, maybe she should not be writing the education

column, either.

NANCY PENN

Newport Beach

In Community Forum, on Oct. 9, Gay Geiser-Sandoval offers a problem,

but as usual, she offers few solutions to her fee-charging issue

(“Education isn’t as free as it’s promised”). Her column is useless as I

don’t know what. It’s sad to see her write and raise problems and never

offer a solution.

JIM DE BOOM

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Jim de Boom writes the Community & Clubs column for

the Daily Pilot.

Geiser-Sandoval has the constitutional right to her opinion; however,

her Sept. 25 column demonstrates her lack of perspective and

understanding of the Constitution. The main function of our government is

the protection and safety of its citizens (“Operation to calm terrorism

may hurt education system”).

Among many others, I lived and was educated during the depression and

World War II. Money certainly was in short supply, but thanks to many

dedicated teachers we went on to become productive citizens.

Education is basically a local responsibility that cannot be conducted

by the mere act of throwing money at it. The community, teachers, parents

and, yes, students have to pitch in and do their job.

Hopefully we have learned about human rights and our responsibility to

be decent citizens.

As for her own terrorist ant war, may she yet be confronted by the

dreaded red fire ants.

Her column, titled “Educationally Speaking,” does not speak for this

teacher of 37 years.

RALPH WHITFORD

Costa Mesa

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Ralph Whitford is a retired teacher.