Harassment Case

* Re “At School, It’s Not All Pudd’n and Pie,” Commentary, Oct. 2: Peggy Orenstein fails to place the blame for harassment of school-age girls where it belongs and chooses instead to single out schools as her whipping boy. At fault are a degenerating society, broken families and individuals who fail to acknowledge their own part in allowing this intolerable situation for young women. As a public elementary school principal who loves children and whose passion is to be their advocate, I am frustrated by just one more jab at schools’ failure to satisfactorily address the ills of society.

To be sure, “girls have the right to harassment-free schools.” However, a society that condemns the schools while allowing harassment to freewheel beyond the school gates will never resolve this daunting problem.

J.W. BROWN

Santa Ana

* Comparing the “sexual agenda” of a middle-school-age boy to that of 6-year-old Johnathan Prevette is ridiculous. School officials missed a golden opportunity to temper their discipline with tolerance, understanding and age-appropriate consequences.

ANDREA WILNER

Sherman Oaks