School Camp Project

Tony Perry’s San Diego At Large column (June 17) suggested there is an inconsistency between the city schools’ integration program and a camp program for African-American male students.

The school district has many programs in which students with special needs are separated out from other students in programs to address those special needs. Students who don’t speak English are separated out for a part of the day to receive special instruction in English. Students with behavioral problems, learning disabilities and physical problems are separated out in classes that address their particular needs for part of a day, and sometimes in separate schools completely, when that is necessary.

However, the district policy is to mainstream all students; to respond to particular needs as quickly and effectively as possible and return the students to regular classes. The African-American males in this program are already in regular, integrated classes for all but about 1 hour every two weeks.

The African-American male summer camp is a separate program, somewhat akin to The Times Summer Camp (Fund), in that both are responding to young people with special needs. The aim of both is not separatism, but to help the young people succeed in the mainstream of life. As Supt. (Tom) Payzant suggests, with more resources more could be done for others with special needs.

SHUF SWIFT

San Diego