Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Katrina Myths Must Be Dispelled

March 17, 2020 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

The article entitled “Coronavirus Prompting E-Learning Strategies” (March 4, 2020) was very interesting and informative. My daughter is a teacher, and I am fascinated by the technology that is used today in schools. Unfortunately, something was not correct.

The article said, “When Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans in 2005, Louisiana Virtual School expanded its capacity to welcome students who weren’t previously enrolled.” For nearly 15 years, reporters in the media say that New Orleans was battered by Hurricane Katrina. Katrina did not hit New Orleans, but farther away.

What “battered” New Orleans in 2005 was a horrific flood caused by levee breaches due to faulty construction. I know firsthand because my family and I lost our home and business in that flood. I am asking you and your publication—for the sake of the thousands who perished and the hundreds of thousands of New Orleans residents whose lives would be turned upside down for years to come—to join the many who wish to have these myths dispelled, not perpetuated.

Susan Levin

Independent Senior Caregiver

Metairie, La.

A version of this article appeared in the March 18, 2020 edition of Education Week as Katrina Myths Must Be Dispelled

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Teaching Profession Webinar
Evaluation Beyond the Checkbox: Turning Ratings Into Teacher Growth
Ratings alone don’t help teachers improve. Join us Nov. 10 to hear what happens after the evaluation: feedback, follow-up, and growth.
Content provided by Frontline Education
Early Childhood Webinar Selling Into Early Learning: New Survey Data and Strategies for Marketers
Selling into PreK? Get fresh EdWeek Research Center data and strategies to position your products and reach the right early learning buyers.
Artificial Intelligence Webinar AI and 'Techlash' Are on a Collision Course. How Should Schools Respond?
Learn what strategies and tactics schools can develop to encourage smart and responsible AI use, while also enforcing tech guardrails.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Opinion The Education Wisdom Our Readers Keep Revisiting: Top 10
These opinion blog posts and essays have made a lasting impression on readers.
1 min read
Trendy halftone collage cutout elements. Laptop, rising arrow chart, gears, handshake, watch, magnifier. Idea, teamwork, brainstorming and success concept Modern retro vector illustration
Cristina Gaidau/iStock
Education Opinion The Opinions EdWeek Readers Care About: The Year’s 10 Most-Read
The opinion content readers visited most in 2025.
2 min read
Collage of the illustrations form the top 4 most read opinion essays of 2025.
Education Week + Getty Images
Education Quiz Did You Follow This Week’s Education News? Take This Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz How Did the SNAP Lapse Affect Schools? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read