Mailbag - Dec. 18, 2001

I wish Tim Cromwell and everyone else who decided not to send their

kids to Estancia would simply visit the school for themselves before

reaching such an important decision. If they did, they’d discover it’s

the newest, the nicest, the cleanest and the safest high school in the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District. They’d discover it’s full of

bright, cheerful and friendly kids, as well as dedicated professional

administrators, instructors and staff who go above and beyond to provide

the very finest teaching environment available anywhere. No gangs, no

rapes, no murders, no graffiti and no racial disharmony at all, despite

what Cromwell and others may have heard over the back fence. Just the

neatest high school I know of anywhere.

I know whereof I speak. All four of my daughters attended Estancia.

All were scholar athletes. All graduated with honors. All have gone on to

successful college careers. The oldest, Tiana, now teaches third grade at

California Elementary School. All loved their time at Estancia, and all

are better off for the experience.

I also co-founded and am the past president of Eagle Pride, a

foundation formed to unite Estancia zone schools while also providing

correct information to the community in an effort to counteract

unwarranted and unfavorable public relations from any source, including

letters such as that from Cromwell.

I obviously disagree, therefore, with Cromwell’s recommendation that

Estancia be sold and the money be invested in Costa Mesa High School. I

do agree with him that the two schools need to be merged, but for

different reasons altogether.

I suggest that we join the schools, give them a different name (Troxel

High?), and call them the East and West campuses. Students would attend

their home school in the morning, and then perhaps be transported to the

other school for afternoon academy classes (i.e. TV production at Mesa

and drama at Estancia) or sports. The sports teams would be joined into

one. This would significantly improve the combined school’s

competitiveness with neighboring high schools. And yes, I’d like to see

that football game.

Joining them could also result in major savings by eliminating

duplication of educational effort (more combined Advanced Placement

classes than either offers alone), as well as administration and

supervision from the principals on down.

Joining the two schools would have another benefit. It would end

decades of what I believe to be an often unhealthy and wasteful rivalry.

It would enable the town to unite behind a common goal. No more “them”

and “us.” Just “us.” After all, they’re all Costa Mesa kids, regardless

of the school they attend.

The recent untimely and tragic death of Matt Colby, who had attended

both Estancia and Mesa, did more to bring these schools and their

students together than anything in recent memory. For a time, that

rivalry was put away. I suggest we put it away forever.

I suggest we build upon this foundation now and do what needs to be

done to create one new high school with two campuses. It would be a great

high school and would foster the city pride Cromwell so yearns for.

In the meantime, I suggest Cromwell reconsider his decision not to let

his boys attend Estancia without actually investigating this fine school

personally.

He should call Estancia Principal Tom Antal and make an appointment

for him and his to personally visit. He’ll then discover Costa Mesa’s

“dirty little secret” is a secret only to the uninformed and

unenlightened. The rest of us know the truth.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa

Bright future awaits Pilot teen columnist

I enjoyed the article by Socrates Cruz (Student Outlook --

“Personality outweighs importance of numbers,” Dec. 11) but the note at

the end of his column did not give him the credit he deserves.

I first met Socrates on March 15. It was the last day of interviews

for the American Legion program, Boys’ State. This program selects

applicants who are juniors from our local high schools to send to

Sacramento each year for one week to participate in the workings of our

government.

Socrates applied at our American Legion Post here in Newport Beach

along with more than 30 other high school juniors. The personal interview

was conducted by two past commanders and the current third vice

commander. We were limited to nine candidates that we could send to

Sacramento.

The interviews were verbal and covered, among other subjects, the

following: the U.S. Constitution; the Bill of Rights; all the other

Amendments to the Constitution; the presidency, including succession

questions, the complete listing of all of our presidents, the states, our

flag and current topics of government. We were astounded at his mastery

of these subjects and needless to say, he made the cut.

In due respect to the talented other eight students who were selected,

Socrates stood heads above the rest. He will be an asset to Harvard or

Yale or whichever university he selects for his future education. We wish

him well.

ROBERT CAROLAN

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Robert Carolan is a past commander for the Newport

Harbor American Legion Post 291.

Newport Harbor owes apology to everyone

In regard to Newport Harbor High’s apology to Westchester for

displaying the painting of the Confederate flag (“Newport Harbor High

apologizes for halftime show,” Nov. 15), I think that the school also

should express its regrets to this community for the incidence.

Although I am a native Californian, I have a Southern background; my

great-grandfather was a Confederate soldier. I am an American. The

Confederate flag now signifies to African Americans and white Americans a

culture of oppression, violence and divisiveness.

We don’t need this culture in America or the Newport area.

SPENCER CRUMP

Corona del Mar