LETTERS-YOUR VIEW: The source of the problem

To the Editor: Stuart Eichert SEAS '99, Wharton '99 To the Editor: In Dina Bass' column, she writes, "talk about missing the point." After reading her article, I cannot help but think that she is the one missing the point. Bass states that Philadelphia's school system is "racist." She then points out the excellent school districts such as Lower Merion and other Main Line school districts. May I remind Bass that the Main Line is not a part of Philadelphia. A comparison of the two can be likened to a comparison of Long Island public schools and public schools in the Bronx and Harlem. The differences between suburban and urban public schools are present in Philadelphia and beyond. These differences are certainly not indigenous to Philadelphia. This is not to say that no problems exist in Philadelphia's public school system. However as a person who grew up in Germantown, Philadelphia, I find myself to be personally insulted when someone makes a blanket statement about the problems of my city without first examining the many contributing factors. One cannot chastise a whole system without first examining it's many parts, both the good, and the bad, the successes, and the failures. Marina Bradley College '01 To the Editor: Dina Bass has swallowed the media's hype that Philadelphia public schools are bad and not doing their job. For the past year, I have been volunteering three days a week at the W. B. Sal High School. I attend classes, labs and some of the school's extracurricular activities such as clubs and local and state contests. I have had close contact with and have learned to know many of the teachers and administrators. The blame is in the wrong place. The teachers are competent, dedicated, knowledgeable, innovative and skilled in the art of teaching. They go out of their way to help any student. Anyone who observes the schools first hand rapidly concludes that the failures are due to the students themselves and the attitude at home. Almost all of the the students are capable of learning. The ones who do well are encouraged and helped at home. There is supervision of homework and activities, as well as participation in home and school functions. Unfortunately, there are too many homes where no value is placed on education, so the students place no value on it either. These students brag to their peers that they failed every course. The parents sign their report cards without comment. Minority status is not a factor. Many students from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds are on the honor role. There is room for improvement and more money would help. However, unless the home environment becomes more supportive, there will remain a large segment of uneducated people unable to be helped by any school system. James Dannenberg Professor of Pediatric Dentistry