The main difference, in my opinion, between being a great reporter and a mediocre one is the writer's ability to locate the hidden story. Jimmy Breslin, for example, is a great reporter due to his uncanny ability to search for the hidden story behind the headlines.

The Tribune's coverage of the Levittown School Board's March 10 meeting is a prime example of poor newspaper reporting. In its lead story (Residents Urge Board to Get on Track with Division) and related editorial (Success for Every Student?) the writer bemoans the plight of Levittown's often forgotten students. Mysteriously, however, she totally ignored reporting about the pleas of one of these students who waited patiently, for over an hour, to address the board of education.

I, for one, would like to apologize to this courageous young Division Avenue co-ed who, in front of a class of her peers, pleaded with the board of education to provide more competent teachers for her NYS Regents (Honors) level Physics course. Speaking on behalf of her classmates, she indicated that over 75 percent of them failed their Physics mid-term examinations. Requests for help, at the building level, appeared to be rebuffed by the building administrator according to this courteous and well-spoken student.

Upon finishing her comments, this young lady stood at the podium for a few moments, in stunned silence, and simply walked away in disgust. Our school board president and the entire school board, simply ignored her pleas. So did the superintendent of schools. What a "lesson for living" these students learned that evening.

This is the only story that a truly great reporter would have covered that evening. Has, I wonder, the editor of the Levittown Tribune, in ignoring this story become another apologist for the failures of the Levittown School District?

The editorial writer is correct in stating, "...Success for every student, the district's motto, was certainly not evident at the March meeting..." I certainly agree with her consensus and recommend that her next editorial be entitled: "Success for Some Students." I suspect this young co-ed's unanswered pleas are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg which has surrounded Division Avenue High School for over two decades.

James P. Ward