School not to blame for vandalism

DONNA SCHEER IS correct to point out the disregard for the environment that was shown by the high school senior student who carved words into the trunk of a tree in the mountains (Letters, Oct. 11). She was incorrect, however, in her indictment of the girls’ schools for not “teaching more of a respect for the environment” and her assertion that the girls’ behavior “reflects poorly on their school and their senior class.”

Scheer ought to have placed responsibility for the girls’ lack of regard for the environment where it belongs: on the girls themselves and on their parents. The causal-link-thinking demonstrated by Scheer — “child misbehaved so the school is at fault” — absolves parents of the duty to address the irresponsible and unethical acts of their children and exonerates the children themselves — in this case, young adults — from being held accountable for incorrect behavior.

Carving into the trunk of a mountain aspen reflects poorly on the high school student herself and the adult(s) who raised her, not on her whole “senior class” and certainly not on “their school.”

Editor’s note: This letter was also signed by four other instructors at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School.

DENISE P. GIANOPOULOS STEPHANIE JONES Instructors, Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School Albuquerque