District needs to think about benefits of...

District needs to think about benefits of preschool

If the Newport-Mesa Unified School District thinks that it “cannot

be in the private preschool business,” then it needs to take a very

hard look at the scope of consequences that this decision brings

(“Preschool to close,” Monday).

President Bush, in trying to greatly improve elementary and

secondary public education, has established the No Child Left Behind

Act of 2001. This act ensures that all states pursue high academic

standards for all students, provide extra support to help students

meet standards, increased flexibility for local schools to accomplish

these goals, and greater accountability, which is measured by student

performance on standardized tests.

It is very well researched and documented that the first five

years of a child’s life is directly affected by the quality and type

of interaction with parents and caregivers. These critically

important first five years also significantly influences how a child

will function in school and later in life. It does not take a rocket

scientist to see that the more attention and consideration public

school districts invest in the lives of children their first five

years, the years before they enter kindergarten, the more that the

direct increased success of the child will be insured.

For the school district to eliminate the Newport Harbor High

School preschool program seems like it is shooting itself in the

foot. Now more than ever, with all the federal and state pressure on

school districts to raise the bar on education, it only makes sense

to provide high-quality and affordable learning environments as early

as possible in a child’s life.

If children continue to enter kindergarten without a strong

learning ethic and foundation, the problems of children not achieving

will continue.

I feel that the school district needs to do all that it can to

keep the excellent preschool program in place. Here is a thought: Put

the enormous amount of money and time spent on high school athletics

into something that will directly educate children, like high

school-based preschool programs.

MAXINE MACHA

Costa Mesa

More to city’s granting variances than meets the eye

In response to the Daily Pilot editorial, “City is right to review

homes” (Nov. 20), I will agree that the owners whose homes have

violated city codes resulting from Andrew Goetz’s alleged forgery are

indeed lucky that they live in Newport Beach. It is unlikely that the

city has ever acted more expeditiously than in this matter. The

“special circumstance variance” was written, first introduced at the

Nov. 12 City Council meeting, rulings have been made regarding at

least six of the affected homes, and there will be a second reading

of the ordinance (and presumable approval) at the Nov. 25 meeting.

Quite a lot to be accomplished in 13 days. Because of the city’s

fast-track tactic, not only are many residents unaware of the issue,

but the overall effect of the variance is unclear.

I feel the editorial missed three very important points regarding

this issue. First, the primary purpose of this “special circumstance

variance” is not only to accommodate the innocent employers of Goetz,

but also to protect the city from legal repercussions. Secondly, the

city is providing “aggressive civic service,” but for potentially 32

homeowners, a very small percentage of the overall city population.

Lastly, for every “devastated homeowner,” there are potentially

scores of other homeowners whose properties may be significantly

impacted by these oversized structures. Nowhere in the “special

circumstance variance” is this addressed. There has not been

sufficient notice to the residents of Newport Beach to fully

understand the potential impact of the proposed variance.

The reality of the situation is that in Newport Beach, a view

brings a premium in the real estate market, and because of this, the

city of Newport Beach needs to take a very long, serious look at

their building and zoning approval procedures. It is truly amazing

that one individual could allegedly submit falsified and fraudulent

information over a three-year period involving at least 32

properties.

The homeowners’ recourse is with their architect, not the city of

Newport Beach or its residents.

JINX HANSEN

Corona del Mar

A thanks to Smith from a former teacher and principal

I’m calling to thank Steve Smith about his article in the Daily

Pilot (“A thanks to teachers,” Saturday). He is right on everything

he said. It’s exactly right.

I am a former schoolteacher and principal with the Los Angeles

Unified School District, and frankly, this is the first time I have

replied to an article or to a letter. I just normally don’t do that.

But this one I had to because I am experienced and knowledgeable, and

Smith has it exactly right. I went and I was going to start to

underline the important things, and I found that I was underlying the

whole article.

So just tell him thank you, and particularly parents and citizens

need to know today, schools are not organized or thinking correctly.

They are dumping work on kids. The environment in so many places is

not adequate. The children don’t have time to absorb what is given.

The teachers sometimes themselves become so jaded about it that

their manner of dress and their department itself is a bad example.

Teachers should be in business attire. Schools are business. Learning

is business. There is not a more important kind of business in the

world today.

Thank you, Steve Smith, for what you have done to try to get the

momentum going back in a better direction.

MILENA THOMPSON

West Santa Ana Heights

Smith column appeared at right time for this teacher

I was calling to thank Steve Smith so much about his article in

the paper this morning.

I teach third grade, and everything he said is so absolutely true,

and last week, I had a really hard week with report cards and

addressing all the standards and trying to make sense of all the

incredible stacks of paperwork that we now have to do. I was pretty

burnt out.

So when I woke up this morning and read what he had to say, it

really hit home and it really made me feel validated that somebody

notices that teaching is a little bit of a tough profession right

now. So thank you, Steve. Thank you for noticing, thank you for being

thankful. I really appreciate all of your columns, but today really

hit my heart. So thank you very much.

Hopefully, our new government will do something about it.

ELIZABETH BARNES

Costa Mesa