To the editor:

In response to Oct. 19 letter regarding an Alternative High School:

We provide special services to many students in the Lawrence school district. Not all children do well in all environments. We allow children to transfer between schools in order to better meet their needs. To ridicule students who attend the Alternative High School is disgraceful.

I had two sons graduate from Lawrence Alternative High School. Both were very bright, gifted students. Neither one did well in the LHS setting. LAHS provides students with the opportunity to learn in a smaller setting, at their own pace, with caring, supportive teachers and staff. Many of the “distractions” of a normal high school do not exist at LAHS.

My youngest son was a National Merit Scholar, and received a scholarship to KU. This is a student who might have potentially dropped out of high school altogether if not for LAHS. If you haven’t visited LAHS, I urge you to do so. It is an exceptional program, providing a needed alternative. It is NOT a trade school for kids who just “can’t make it” in regular school.

Lawrence needs to continue to support all its students.

Patti Butcher,

Lawrence