To the editor: How is it {that a} highschool senior like Zach Gottlieb understands the closing of minds higher than a few of The Occasions’ personal columnists? (“Hear up. The shutdown of the teenage thoughts is sort of full,” Opinion, Dec. 10.)
Individuals like Gottlieb will quickly be freshmen at universities throughout the nation. And plenty of mother and father will give their kids this warning: Something you say or do at school or on campus can be held in opposition to you. In the event you do not just like the professor’s politics, again up his views on his checks, get your A or B, and get the hell out of his class.
The identical goes for political discussions on campus. Preserve your mouth shut and you’ll survive.
I want Gottlieb’s concepts about having a vigorous dialog about concepts would come true, however that is unlikely on this local weather.
Mark Walker, Yorba Linda
..
To the editor: As thought-provoking as Gottlieb’s article on closeness amongst highschool college students is, an essential component of his argument is lacking – historic perspective.
As we speak’s system could also be flawed, however it’s gentle years forward of that of many years previous. It’s definitely significantly better than the junior excessive and highschool schooling I acquired in LA within the racist, sexist, homophobic, McCarthyist Fifties and early Sixties.
Irrespective of how one-sided at the moment’s college discussions are by Gottlieb’s reckoning, there are at the least points associated to race, gender, sexual orientation and politics. Earlier than, we pretended they did not exist.
Vincent Brook, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Gottlieb is right in his evaluation of the dearth of vital pondering in our faculties.
It’s important for every of us to have the ability to see different factors of view, even once we might not agree with them and even settle for them. We have to perceive different individuals and the way they see the world.
With out this capacity, an individual turns into dogmatic, unempathetic and overly vital. One can not “see” with one’s intelligence and reasoning what may be price contemplating in one other standpoint.
That is how we be taught to compromise and work collectively.
Betty Seidmon-Vidibor, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: My hope for the long run acquired a refreshing increase once I learn Gottlieb’s play.
I solely hope that extra younger individuals will embrace his concepts about having open, non-judgmental discussions about present points. It would not harm us oldies to observe his recommendation too.
Joel Jamison, Carpinteria