I found your recent editorial "Quick Reactions" both condescending and, in fact, insulting regarding its criticism of the responses of some concerned parents and others to possible changes in neighborhood schools.
You describe these reactions as muddying the school issues. People are responding based upon the disorganized and "muddy" information school administrators have provided them and legitimately so. The official's comment "there isn't anything to announce yet" is, according to your reporting, inaccurate in that the vast majority of a consultant's recommendation regarding choice schools has been dropped because of negative neighborhood and parent response.
One school, Bamber Valley Elementary School, now has been targeted in an effort to save face on what has been a bungled and "community and parent insensitive" enterprise. It is a sad commentary on our community that in order to attend a very good school, one must enter a lottery or we must bus students far from where they live.
We should be seeking excellence in all schools instead of focusing on moving a few lucky lottery winners from one place to another. Really? Gambling for a good education in Rochester? We are better than this.
I do not appreciate being lectured for caring about the quality of education in our community. You have placed the "mud" in the wrong place.
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Steve Mues
Rochester
