Letters

To the Editor:

Thank you for your informative, detailed, and helpful articles on the real world of American schools, in particular the recent story about I.P.S. 218 in New York City ("Working in Harmony: A Community School Supports the Whole Family,'' March 23, 1994). The writer makes the efforts of this community school come alive, and shows a marked sensitivity to the difficulties the school faces.

The coverage is marred, however, by one paragraph that strikes me as an insult to the teachers, social workers, students, and families who are making I.P.S. 218 a success: "Those efforts are paying off where it counts,'' the story says, "in student results.'' It goes on to relate that 8th graders have standardized-test scores "15 points higher in both reading comprehension and mathematics, on average, than students at...