Teacher Mentors

In a Times article (July 21), “Street People Seek Challenge of Inner-City Classroom,” Wayne Johnson, president of United Teachers of Los Angeles, is quoted as saying, “I’d like to see schools set up along the hospital model where you would have kind of a chief of staff for a core of mentor or veteran teachers that would work with the new teachers. Sit down with them on a daily basis to give them a little time to hash things out.”

Johnson seems to be saying that new teachers are given little assistance in their assignments. However, the district has established a support system (mentor teacher program), which involves teachers helping teachers.

As the initial mentor teacher assigned to Manual Arts High School, I must state that teacher trainees and all new teachers were given assistance all through the school year. New teachers were given an in-service orientation dealing with classroom management, instructional techniques, and other information helpful to new teachers. New teachers were visited repeatedly during the school year and conferences followed. Additional assistance came from retired teachers and the districts Priority Staffing Program.

New teachers were given much aid and assistance. As chief spokesperson for the teachers of this city, Johnson should be more certain of the facts before he speaks.

JOEL HAHN

Los Angeles