Taxes no substitute for good parenting

In the Aug. 22 Daily Herald article, "A civil-rights approach," Chicago Urban League's Sharon Jones is quoted a saying: "There's a history of housing segregation in Illinois that has - minorities living together in poorer areas and whites living together in wealthier areas."

This is irresponsible stereotyping and race baiting.

I'm white, college educated, and have worked all my adult life, sometimes two jobs at once. I could not afford to move into Winnetka, Wilmette. And even though my children never got to attend New Trier, they did become responsible, well-educated, and successful adults because their family was involved in their education.

It's time for politicians and activists to stop thinking that educational success is about the buildings, the textbooks and the salaries of teachers and administrators. Involved parents are ultimately the key to successful students. And parent involvement does not mean demanding more money or more special treatment. Parent involvement means making sure the child does the homework, attending parent-teacher conferences and asking how they can help their own child and volunteering for school activities.

So go ahead and enroll Chicago students at New Trier High. Maybe that's the only way to prove that it's not a building, but a family, that brings success.

Diane Becker

Huntley