Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to an editorial published Nov. 20
titled
”
Time for wholesale changes in arrogant, failing RLAG
process.
”
I am currently a fourth-year theater major and English minor at
the University of California Los Angeles.
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to an editorial published Nov. 20 titled “Time for wholesale changes in arrogant, failing RLAG process.” I am currently a fourth-year theater major and English minor at the University of California Los Angeles.
However, I am also a Gilroy native, as I once attended Gilroy High School and was the valedictorian of the graduated Class of 2000.
During my recent visit to Gilroy for Thanksgiving break, I was saddened to hear that one of the most influential educators in my life was being harassed by parents of current Gilroy students. My father handed me a Dispatch article depicting an ongoing battle between Peter Gray and parents who do not trust Mr. Gray’s teaching methods. Therefore, I decided to write this letter to dispel their worries.
To the worried parents:
I truly believe that your worries are unwarranted. Peter Gray was my high school English teacher both my sophomore and junior year at Gilroy High. I actually enjoyed his class so much during my sophomore year that I took extra steps to secure a position in his Junior Advanced Placement English course.
Not only was his curriculum educational, but it was highly enjoyable. I first read my favorite piece of literature (East of Eden by John Steinbeck) as a part of his class and reference his class speech assignments as my first experiences of performance. These experiences aided in my exploration of both Theater and English. Therefore, I am currently a major in the best undergraduate theater department in the country and pursue an English minor due to my mastery of the literary skills I learned in Gray’s classes.
As for the parental push for the use of English textbooks and anthologies, I strongly suggest that you do not employ the uses of these texts. Within my own current English classes, my professors tend to shy away from English anthologies with the opinion that most of these texts are narrow-minded and ignorant of a complete perspective of literature. Therefore, I recommend that you trust your English teachers to choose works that emphasize and expand on the skills that they teach in class.
My last comment for these parents is this: if you are worried about your child not getting into a good college, then you are just doing your job as a parent. However, focusing and blaming on one aspect of your child’s education will not make them a competitive student in their applications to college.
Colleges look for students who are well-rounded: strong in both academics and person. I know it sounds cliché but it is quite true. Trust me. I am a college tour guide and give admissions presentations to prospective UCLA students. Therefore, instead of asking Mr. Gray to resign, talk with your child and make sure they are accomplishing both their academic and personal goals.
Mr. Gray: thank you for your incredible influence on my education and life.
Kawehilani Kaanapu, Los Angeles
Submiited Monday, Dec. 8 to ed****@************ch.com
