MAILBAG - April 5, 2007

Personal experience with TeWinkle is positive

I appreciated Michael Miller’s recent article dispelling some of the negative myths about TeWinkle Middle School, (“On a fact-finding mission,” March 25). After visiting classes and interviewing students and staff during a day spent on campus, Miller concluded that TeWinkle is not the chaotic, violent place depicted in many letters to this paper. I was disappointed, however, that Miller focused only on the experience of Englishlearners at TeWinkle. I would like to provide some insight into another significant aspect of life at TeWinkle: the experience of high-achieving, native Englishspeakers like my own children.

Two of my children are now at Estancia, and one is at TeWinkle in seventh grade. Each has benefited from the academic program for advanced students.

During each of the years my kids were at TeWinkle, they consistently scored in the upper reaches of the state standardized tests. As one example, the eighth-grade test scores for one of my kids merited a 93rd percentile in reading, 99th percentile in language, 97th percentile in spelling, and 95th percentile in math. I point to my children’s high standardized test scores not to brag but to counter the paranoia induced by Robin Benham’s recent commentary, (“TeWinkle is hurting its students’ futures,” Sounding Off, March 4) in which she complained her son was significantly “behind” when he transferred to a different middle school following a year at TeWinkle. Benham’s perception that her child lagged academically is no basis for assuming TeWinkle’s other high-achieving students are behind their peers at other local middle schools. My family’s experience, based on standardized test results, is that TeWinkle prepares highachieving students to perform on par with others statewide.

Several years ago, when TeWinkle was under different leadership, the school did suffer from a lack of discipline. During that time, fights and unpleasant interactions among students were not uncommon at lunch and in physical education class. However, when Dan Diehl took over as principal three years ago, he immediately focused on ensuring safety and discipline on campus. The results were quick and palpable. Today, the atmosphere is peaceful and positive.

If any reader is worried about sending a high-achieving child to TeWinkle, I can offer assurances based on personal experience: My seventh-grader is excelling in all her studies, doing challenging work, enjoying team sports, and perhaps most important, thriving socially amid a universe of students diverse in ethnicity, native language, and income level but united in their sense of fun and natural curiosity about the world.

My conclusion? TeWinkle is a great place to be a high-achieving middle-schooler.

KATHY ESFAHANI

Costa Mesa

Schools leaders should praise accomplishments

Teachers and administrators are glorifying children who are acting the way they should act and giving them credits, (“Local students honored for overcoming obstacles,” March 24). Instead of punishing them for misbehaving, they are giving them accolades and praising them when they act like they should act. I don’t understand how a student can get an award for overcoming obstacles and acting like a normal child should act. Perhaps he was also honored for his academic prowess, but that wasn’t mentioned in the article. It was only mentioned that he had a terrible temper and he overcame the temper, so he got an award. There are so many other children and students who have overcome so many obstacles. I know of a boy who has cerebral palsy and only has vision in one eye and is getting straight A’s at Newport Harbor High School.

GETTIE JOHNSTON

Costa Mesa

Residents should vote on location of new city hall

Steve Smith’s columns often cover controversial subjects, and I enjoy reading them. Why no position on Debra Allen’s alleged conflict of interest? Maybe he is one of the many influential people she has bragged about entertaining at her home.

To settle the issue, with fairness to all, I believe the citizens of Newport Beach should vote on the city hall location. The Pilot’s publisher, Tom Johnson, has been right on in his articles. He has the guts to tell it like it is.

JACK OWENS

Balboa Island

Publisher’s column crossed the lineAfter reading the Community Commentary, (“Commissioner: No conflict of interest in park,” March 27), I really think that Tom Johnson owes Debra Allen an apology, (“Conflicted in Debra Allen Park,” March 23). I think he overstepped the line there.

PATTI WHITE

Newport Beach