Mailbag:

Ocean View School District Trustee John Briscoe, with no rhyme and little reason, states that he “can assure” us that the “topics” included in Maya Angelou’s 1970 National Book Award nominee, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” are “inappropriate for our young 8- to 13-year-olds to read without teacher or parent intervention” (“‘Caged’ not monitored well,” Community Commentary, March 25). Briscoe says this, even though Angelou’s groundbreaking memoir has been successfully used in schools and universities across the country for decades.

While it is of course a necessary and bonding practice for parents and educators to be aware of the interests of children and to track their activities — both curricular and extracurricular — is this 40-year-old publication really a threat that requires Briscoe, brandishing his faux expertise, to pontificate upon? How often has the book been checked out by a student since it’s been on the school library’s shelf? It was fewer times than could be counted on one hand at last report.

Let the marketplace of ideas flow forth even during the tender pre-adolescent years. What they read and don’t understand won’t harm them, and it may well serve as an opportunity for dialogue and increased understanding. Isn’t that what education is about? To paraphrase an old bumper-sticker slogan: Books don’t hurt children; demagogic people hurt children.

Editor’s note: Miles is a trustee on the Huntington Beach Library Board of Trustees.

Destroying coyotes not the answer

I have been very interested in your coverage of the coyote “problem” (“‘Never feed a coyote,’” Feb. 25). I wish to make a statement that may offend the cat owner. We have two small dogs that I try to protect from harm by any animal, car, etc. I had a hawk try to steal my dog when he was smaller. Do we kill the hawks? Coyotes are like any other animal; when the opportunity lends itself to a free meal, they take it.

I have to neuter/spay, license, vaccinate, etc. my dogs, yet cat owners do not. Possibly, if that changed, we would have fewer feral and loose cats for possible meals as well as more money for our shelters.

Do we need to destroy these animals? That will create other issues, i.e., more rats, opossums and raccoons.

Years ago in Seal Beach, they destroyed the red fox, and now the area is overrun by rabbits. Now they want to kill the rabbits. When does it end?

In Mammoth Lakes, we had an issue with bears and humans, which has been resolved by no destruction of the bears and “retraining of the humans.” The person responsible for this great job was featured on Animal Planet, “bear whisperer” Steve Searles. Maybe we can get a few lessons from him.

Do we need to kill everything? Isn’t there enough of that elsewhere?

Huntington Beach

Time to crack down on violators

The idea of parking permits is a good one and used in other cities, but unless it is enforced, it is like laws relating to illegal skateboarding. The violation fine for unpermitted parking should be a minimum of $90 for the first offense, then escalating. Skateboarders should not just be shooed away, but ticketed or taken to the station, where parents must claim them and pay a fine — $25 seems a good starting point. Repeat offenders should not only be fined, but given community service. Laws that are not enforced have no reason to exist. The permits and fines would increase revenue, provide relief for residents and help protect public property.

Do we need three school districts?

Regarding “Local school district on troubled list,” March 25:

Yes, our school district will meet its obligations, but at what cost? Cuts are being made, and they have been made in the classrooms! Classes are getting larger, periods are being canceled, and personnel who work with students are losing their jobs. All that and our classrooms are not being cleaned daily.

Can you imagine having 24 to 32 children in your home for the day and not cleaning up after them?

It seems to me there are a whole lot of cuts affecting the classrooms.

I realize we all have to make cuts to balance the budget, but I think they need to be as far away from the classroom as possible.

Maybe it is time we find a way to unify the districts here in Huntington Beach. We have three school districts (if you don’t count the Fountain Valley School District, which has schools in Huntington Beach as well).

How much longer can we afford to support three district offices? The Huntington Beach City School District has one superintendent, three assistant superintendents and a full staff who service only nine schools.

As far as I could tell, the Ocean View School District has one superintendent, one assistant superintendent and a full staff serving about 15 schools, and the Huntington Beach Union High School District also has one superintendent, two assistant superintendents and a full staff serving 10 schools.

The money saved by going to one district office could be better utilized in the classroom.