In Praise of Teachers
Two editions of your magazine have had articles that were critical of public education. "An Unlikely Spot at the Head of the Class" [October 2] about Boston schools insinuates that it was only when the schools were freed of the teachers union that the schools were able to be innovative. "Fast Times, Revisited" [September 25], an interview with the young man who pretended to be a high school student in a Los Angeles school, portrayed teachers as uncaring and lazy. The piece also mentioned 40 students in a class, and the young man seemed to see nothing wrong with that. As a public school teacher I feel that U.S. News is painting public schools and teachers with a pretty broad brush. Research tells us that the two indicators of student success are the education level of the mother and the economic status of the family. Teachers deserve our respect and understanding for the tough job that they are doing every day, often trying to take the place of the absent parent. I am lucky enough to teach at a high-functioning suburban school in Wisconsin with very few of the problems like those mentioned in your articles. Most of our children come to school ready to learn, with parents who value what we are trying to achieve. Even so, my job is tough and challenging, and for much lower pay than other professions that require as much education as I have. I love my job and feel that I am doing my civic duty by sacrificing monetary gain for making a difference in the world. Isn't it about time that journalists and politicians tell the real story about public education?
TAMARA JOHNSON
Wales, Wis.
High School Hoax?
I was appalled at the portrayal of high school students in "Fast Times, Revisited" [September 25] in an interview with Jeremy Iversen. Posing as a high school student, Iversen visited one high school, in one area, in one state. High school graduates around the country could explain to him that individual states are responsible for the school systems within each state. Surprisingly enough, that is why a person cannot possibly expect to go into one high school, study it for a year, and then make vast conclusions for the entire nation as a whole. This is the impression I got from your article. Not once did it mention that this reflects only one school system. It is also important to consider the sort of funding a school receives based on property taxes and to consider whether the school system relies on the performance of its students on standardized tests for funding. If Iversen had truly wanted to know what high school is like in the United States, he would not have done one case study. He should have done several case studies: at least one in every state and in every setting; schools with a lot of funding and schools with little to no funding, etc. America is a diverse place where each school district is drastically different from another.
REBEKAH L. RAFFENSPERGER
Grantham, Pa.
Money, Power, Politics
"Capitol Crime" [September 25] was a most interesting cover story, but the subtitle was too optimistic: "How a new Washington scandal could bring Congress to its knees." Whatever gave you the idea that anything could bring Congress to its knees-except votes and money? Our Congress has been out of control for so many years it probably can't be controlled. Lobbyists and political action committees run the country, and voters don't seem to care. If both those operations were eliminated, there might be some chance to get honest representation, rather than have a system of personal profit derived from corruption and pork-barrel spending. There are no ethics in Congress-or representation of the people either!
WILLIAM S. RODGERS
Brentwood, Tenn.
"Capitol Crime" gives some hope that perhaps there are effective watchdog forces within our government that curb the corrupting influences of the likes of defense contractor MZM. As with Enron, MZM had to begin crashing from internal excesses before control agencies started to act. But the big questions are: Had MZM, and others like it, continued to be profitable, would they still be fleecing us, and can we count on all such rogues to eventually collapse under the weight of their own incompetence?
BRUCE KITTILSON
Golden Valley, Minn.
We in San Diego lived with the Duke Cunningham story for quite some time, so it was nice to get the national perspective. You mentioned the San Diego Union-Tribune as the factor that broke the story. If "Capitol Crime" is this rampant, why did it take a local newspaper like the Union-Tribune to highlight government fraud? What does the House ethics committee do? Or is this kind of stuff so common that the Duke Cunningham mess is just a pimple on a elephant?
JIM CARROLL
La Mesa, Calif.
Is it coincidental that U.S. News printed a 12-page article about a Republican scandal just weeks before the midterm elections? I think it is a deliberate attempt to influence the elections comparable to the Dan Rather/CBS fiasco. The Cunningham incident took place almost a year ago. You could have delayed your attack until after the elections. Where is the equivalent coverage of any Democrats' scandals? There was no coverage. The Republicans should be rioting in the streets.
H. W. MAIER
Lynden, Wash.
Correction:"An Unlikely Spot at the Head of the Class" [October 2] suggested that Boston's charter schools are not public schools. Though most are not members of the Boston Public Schools, charter schools are public.
This story appears in the October 16, 2006 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.