Education a Cooperative Venture

I read with interest the article regarding the difficulty of increasing the enrollment at Laurel School (“Board Seeks to End Ethnic Imbalance,” Feb. 13). As the article stated, this has been a longstanding problem.

I especially appreciate the contrast between the two parents, an insider’s and an outsider’s view of Laurel. While we here at Laurel do not claim to have all the answers to the educational challenges of today’s world, we do offer to Brea citizens a strong, professionally provided education in a caring, nurturing environment.

If a parent decides after only two weeks in kindergarten that this school does not suit her child’s needs, I think she and her children have forfeited a great opportunity. If, on the other hand, a parent such as (Margie) McMillan, whose children have received their entire elementary education here, can say that she is happy with the quality of teaching at Laurel, I would tend to rely on the experience of that parent.

In my 22 years of serving the Brea schools, I have learned clearly that it takes both the parents and the schools to truly educate children. The Laurel staff is proud of the education it offers to this city’s children. I hope that soon we will have the opportunity to provide that same quality education to a larger segment of this city’s population.

PAT AHERN

Principal, Laurel School

Brea