To the Editor:Re “Justices Rule Against Affirmative Action” (front page, June 30):While I share the outrage directed at the Supreme Court’s striking down affirmative action, as the founder and director of a preschool day care center and having devoted my life to early childhood interventions, I know that the starting point for creating equality in this country was never at the college level. The reason affirmative action has been necessary to equalize college admissions is that the needed resources have not been spent to prepare children for learning when they first start formal schooling. Children of color from disadvantaged backgrounds need quality preparation to develop attitudes, skills and behaviors that are essential to eventually passing their classes, graduating and writing a college application. While protesting the recent Supreme Court decision is cathartic, the real solution to providing a diverse population ready for college is to pour more resources into early schooling and a variety of parent supports. Then a wider demographic will be qualified and admitted and can enjoy the fruits of higher education.

---

Persons: Susan Cedar Locations: Susan Cedar Santa Fe