To the editor:

Thank goodness the members of the Mehlville school board have the foresight to get out of the transfer program in an expedited fashion.

I wish it could have happened faster, but I understand the financial aspects of the decision. It was refreshing to read the comments of former board member David Gralike, who was quoted as saying: “… The success of public education is based upon local taxes for local children.” Notice that he mentioned nothing of “diversity,” as the other districts’ officials stated in the article.

I found it offensive that Lindbergh’s superintendent would say that “diversity is essential to the quality of a good school district.” That comment, taken in context, gives the perception that diversity can only be obtained through busing-in minority students from the city.

I guess that superintendent — and all the other politically correct administrators from other districts — believe that their mostly white student body cannot be diverse without a minority presence.

I contend that the school districts in this area are very “diverse” without the transfer program — there are rich, middle class, poor; conservative, moderate, liberal; jocks and geeks; smart and not so smart; blue-collar and white-collar; male and female, etc.

Obviously, the term “diversity” is being used to justify a failed social program that was forced upon us by judicial activism in the 1970s. Just think about the millions of dollars that have been spent on busing that could have been spent on educating all of our local children.

Tim Hudwalker

Oakville