Parents need credentials to home-school their kids...

Parents need credentials

to home-school their kids

A doctor cannot practice medicine without being a licensed

physician with the proper education. Same for a lawyer, same for an

engineer. With regard to Lolita Harper’s Sunday story (“Make yourself

at home”), why is it these parents can teach their children without

proper teaching credentials and the proper education in a school with

a degree in teaching?

I don’t understand that part of it. Also, they say that they want

to insulate their children from a world that’s toxic. Excuse me, the

world is toxic in some places, but that’s how children learn. They

learn that there is good and bad out in the world, and if they’re

insulated in the home, isolated in the home, they are not going to

know what the real world is like until they get out there. And by

that time it will be too late for them to adjust to the real world

normally.

I also feel that these children are missing out on the sociability

that goes along with being in a school setting, a regular school

setting -- playing on the playground with other children, just having

childhood memories of being in school. I think that parents are doing

their children a great disservice with home-schooling them.

SANDRA BASMACIYAN

Corona del Mar

A cheer for Daily Pilot

columnist’s bluntness

On Steve Smith’s Saturday column, he is so dead on. I just want to

applaud what he said. I wish I had said it myself. Hip, hip hooray

for you Steve, for calling a spade a spade.

MAXINE COHEN

Corona del Mar

Column points out results

of parents’ lax supervision

In regard to Steve Smith’s column Saturday (“Rape trial isn’t

about lying”), I am really pleased to see somebody taking a rational

overview of this whole horrible situation with this Haidl kid.

I think situations likes this frankly are created by parents who

are neglectful and lax in their discipline of kids.

My wife was a school teacher for a number of years and she can

cite many, many instances of parents coming in to talk to teachers

about irresponsible behavior of their kids and immediately taking the

kids’ side, becoming extremely defensive with their children there.

And the message being sent to these kids is that you can do anything

you want; the world owes you something, and we’ll back you every step

of the way.

The fabric of our society is falling apart with this lack of any

parental discipline. And Steve, I just want to thank you for pointing

that out and doing it in such a strong, forceful manner. Keep it up.

There are many of us out here who read this and say, “Yes, right on.”

RICHARD HARRINGTON

Corona Del Mar

Church has been more

than a good neighbor

We have been residents of Lido Isle for the past 31 years, and

have attended St. Andrew’s Church for nearly that length of time.

Approximately 10 years ago, we arrived late for church, and rather

than circle around and go to the school parking lot, we parked on the

street behind the church. As we were getting out of our car, a church

official came running up to us, asking if we would move our car.

There were only three other cars parked on the block, so I asked “For

what reason?” He said that the residents did not like to have church

members park on the street, and we need to avoid irritating them.

I could not see how a couple in their 60s -- hardly rowdies --

leaving their car in front of their home for one hour and 15 minutes

could ruin their day. So we did not move our car. I told the church

official that if the neighbors cause any trouble, I would be glad to

go before the City Council and state my views.

It seems to me that the church has gone out of its way to be a

good neighbor -- planning underground parking, soundproofing rooms

and adding trees to shield views.

Literally thousands of people have been helped through the many

wonderful programs of the church, and so much more can be done if the

expansion plan is approved.

MARION AND DENNIS PICKENS

Newport Beach

Article on rape trial

right on the money

Steve, your article Saturday about the rape trial was terrific.

Who needs, in quotes, “friends like those of Jane Doe?” Thanks Steve,

for saying it like it is.

MARJE APPEL

Newport Beach

Views on rape trial echo

what many are thinking

Regarding Steve Smith’s column (“Rape isn’t about lying”), amen.

Thank you for saying what many have been thinking since Jane Doe’s

“friends” gave their discrepancy stories. What I wonder is how the

defense attorneys sleep at night knowing what they know. Also, Jane

Doe may or may not have consciously lied, but what those boys did to

her is unconscionable.

SUSAN MERRIHEW

Balboa Island

Reader questions identity of

the ‘man behind the curtain’

Geoff West, a frequent and articulate contributor to the Daily

Pilot, speaks of the “man behind the curtain.” He often pontificates

his dislike for Mr. M.H. Millard. Although Millard and I do not

always agree on issues, he is public and available for “one-on-one”

debate.

I can find him at City Council meetings, study sessions, Planning

Commission. West seems to spend his time watching television, with no

public contact. It appears that West may be the one who forms his

opinions from “behind the curtain.”

JUDITH BERRY

Costa Mesa