To the Editor:

Your analysis, condemning the Archdiocese, and most particularly, the Archbishop, for the closing of the Whitestone School is entirely meritless and misplaced. This is a simple case of mathematics. A Pre-K through 5^th grade school cannot be operated with only 45 students.

Why are the parents failing to enroll their children in this day school? The Whitestone neighborhood contains some of the best public schools in Queens where parent may prefer to place their children for basic academics.

Unmentioned by you is the superb afternoon school as well as the continuation of the early childhood school and grades nursery through kindergarten, exceptional programs which foster our children’s ethnic and religious development.

The Whitestone parish council, school board, and priest have undoubtedly used their best efforts in an enrollment campaign. If parents believe their children are learning our culture and religion through means other than an extensive day school, then any comprehensive study of education, reorganization, merging, or additional monetary contributions will not be effective.

Very truly yours,

Leah P. Pappas, Esq.

Astoria, NY