Kudos and Education not Indoctrination

October 8, 2003

Dear Editor,

Thanks Joshua Wachtel's article "College Board Okays New Hires, Maintains Layoffs," Oct. 3.

It was a model of clarity. It had the perspective of someone knowledgeable on the subject matter. Please continue your excellent reporting.

Edgar Montgomery

October 8, 2003

Dear Editor,

Apparently Stephen Keats entirely missed my point on the Green / Socialism / Communism issue-- thereby proving my point exactly. ("LETTERS: Condescending Words," Oct. 7)

The previous author had sought to disparage an entire group of progressive voters by labeling them socialist, knowing full well many people upon reading socialism immediately think communism (for the record, the former is an economic system, the latter a form of government).

Mr. Keats' little tirade about a cab driver understanding the horrors of communism while a supposedly educated person like myself doesn't, shows how effective that author's strategy was.

By the way, I see my role as teacher as one of teaching children how to think-- not what to think. That is the difference between education and indoctrination. And, if they read something and clearly miss the point... I generally suggest they try it again until they understand the author's intent and not read into the passage something that's not there.

Finally, neither I nor many of my fellow educators are big fans of Gray Davis. I was not attempting to defend Governor Davis. I was attempting to defend our democratic institutions which ought not be trampled upon in a rush to judge one man's record prematurely. He was reelected just eleven months ago and our constitution calls for a four-year term of office unless he is found guilty of some criminal action. He has not.

Marc J. Sanschagrin
SMMCTA / CTA / NEA