I feel compelled to comment on the incoherent and embarrassing ad hominem attacks on Mr. Whitting that appeared on these pages last week. The fact is Mr. Whitting has only raised the issue of what is going on in our schools in the great political tradition of this country, disdaining apathy and exercising free speech. And he should be commended for his civic virtue in the homes and classrooms of this district-not attacked. We should have a vigorous discussion of whether we have a cadre of experienced and enthusiastic educators giving their all to motivate our children or do we have a bunch of overpaid clock watchers who quickly evacuate the faculty parking lot by 2:56 p.m. I urge the community to give a glance at these fugitives, which may be more damning than Mr. Whitting's thought-provoking signs. It is for the community to decide which condition exists.

We should not be embarrassed by the budget defeat; we should be embarrassed by the New York test scores listed in Newsday for the world's edification. What impact does this information have on our real estate values? There are school districts in the wilds of Suffolk County that boast stronger results. We must have better scores and better achievement by our students. I suggest that both our investment and test results should be discussed critically.

McCarthy-style character attacks on anyone do not belong in our community. It could be said that since one of our new board members is married to a teacher there is a definite conflict of interest. Is this board member more interested in pay, benefits, and work rules for teachers or accountability and performance? Should we impugn that individual's motivations as well? Our children are most important, not the teachers or the administration. It is our board of education's duty to be independent of the permanent bureaucracy and hold it accountable. No thinking person objects to compensating our teachers well; nevertheless, they should be expected to perform and not be arrested at high noon for public drunkenness on the grammar school steps. Was that incident the tip of the iceberg? What other problems has our stellar administration been hiding from the community whose taxes pay their salaries? That is truly embarrassing.

Further, our vaunted former Superintendent Dr. McGill was featured in resplendent color in Newsday recently. It was interesting to learn that he seems to be against accountability and standardized testing. Is that why our scores are embarrassing? The Harvard credentials and private school buzzwords impressed many in our community and evidently have the same effect in Scarsdale. It will be interesting to examine that district's results in a few years. Especially fortuitous for us in that Dr. Mike's hand-picked acolytes are still firmly in charge at good old North Shore! I would also point out that these worthies have the active support and approval of our august and vigilant board of education.

We have small class sizes, well-paid teachers and administrators, an educated and concerned community, plenty of materials in our schools, a lot of earth being moved around and nifty new Viking Maroon paint on the High School. With all of these resources we should expect more from our district. We must decide if the problem is of lack of investment or a systemic condition of political correctness, self-esteem based on little or no accomplishment, and new age edu-babble promoted by a self-absorbed administration that is short-changing our children. Is the administration and faculty doing their level best to motivate and instill an atmosphere of enthusiasm toward learning in the precious minds entrusted to their care? It is the community's duty to focus on these issues. That is what we owe to our children.

Richard Acerra