LETTERS

HOW A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS

"No period of life is more important than its start. Focusing on a relatively brief time can lead to a whole lifetime of promise." ANGELA FAN Baltimore, Maryland

Your article on the brain, the windows of opportunity for development at various ages, and neural plasticity [SPECIAL REPORT, Feb. 3] should challenge parents and educators to question some popular assumptions about child rearing. Because the brain's greatest growth spurt continues until age 10, and "rich experiences really do produce rich brains," we should strive to give our children a wide variety of experiences rather than depend on artificial delivery systems. That is why learning in the real world is so powerful for young children, and computers, which merely deliver a "virtual" experience, may be appropriate for older students but not younger ones. WILLIAM L. RUKEYSER Woodland, California

Your report should be read by everyone, not just parents and teachers. If I had known what I learned from your article when my sons were born, I would have been a much better and more effective father. HANS LOWHURST Woodside, California

The people who need to change their ways of child rearing certainly aren't going to do so because of a technical, complex article they are incapable of reading. And the politicians who make the policies sure as hell aren't interested in axons, dendrites and synapses. GENE JACKSON Walnut Springs, Texas

It is high time we recognize the far-reaching effects of neglect and abuse of the very young--not just on children but on society as a whole. OWEN W. DYKEMA Roseburg, Oregon

To call for greater social spending as the way to help young brains develop properly misses the mark. Where is the demand for greater individual responsibility? Now, more than ever, prospective parents must carefully consider the time commitment required to raise children. The new findings call for people to take greater responsibility for their actions, not for the government to increase spending on social programs. MICHAEL V. IPPOLITO JR. Bedminster, New Jersey

At the end of your story you noted that "just last week, in the U.S. alone, some 77,000 newborns began the miraculous process of wiring their brains for a lifetime of learning." But what of the countless unborn who are cut off at the outset of their miraculous journey? KARIN L. AUCONE Manchester-by-the Sea, Massachusetts

As parents our obligations seem so simple and the results so awesome: provide a stimulating, rich environment, and the consequent neural activity will give us back a human being with a brain rich in learning and memory and unique in emotion and thought. And we know that it is simple to shape our children's behavior. All we need to do is model the behavior we wish to see in our youngsters. What then keeps us from being immensely successful in our parenting? JOSEPH K. VALAITIS Brecksville, Ohio

You failed to note the critical role breast feeding plays in optimizing a baby's brain power. Mother's milk contains important building blocks not found in any domestic infant formula. Babies breast fed just one month have an 8-point IQ advantage as kindergartners, and that figure rises with extended breast feeding. LAURA HAYNES COLLECTOR The Breast-Feeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles Irwindale, California

You observed, "rich experiences...produce rich brains." Music provides some of the richest a child can have. It is never too early to start exposing your kids to it. Infants as young as four months old have defined tastes in music. If we parents, educators and policymakers expect our children to fully develop as human beings, we need to tend to their needs right from the start, and those needs include music. JOHN J. MAHLMANN, Executive Director Music Educators National Conference Reston, Virginia

Your report was quite informative, but it is a shame that we should be in need of scientific research to be more nurturing to our children. JULISSA CORRAL Chicago

DAY-CARE CONSIDERATIONS

Your articles on how the brain develops and the implications for day care [SPECIAL REPORT, Feb. 3] should be required reading for legislators before they debate or vote on any legislation affecting day care and the education of the very young. Proper care, nourishment and education of these children benefit not only the youngsters and their families but the entire nation. HARLAN K. MOORE Rogers, Arkansas

Why have kids if you don't want to stay home and take care of them? One of life's greatest joys is hearing "Mom!" when your first-grader bursts through the door after school. He can't wait to tell you all he has learned. His world is opening up, but he still needs you. COLLEENE JOHNSON Colorado Springs, Colorado

Let's take care not to juxtapose illuminating developmental neuroscience findings with myths about the superiority of nonemployed mothers. Responsive, stimulating environments for infants are provided by many day-care centers and are not provided by some stay-at-home parents. Various care arrangements can optimize brain maturation. No one size fits all families. CATHERINE CHAMBLISS, Chair Department of Psychology Ursinus College Collegeville, Pennsylvania

MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET

For campaign reform to be meaningful, there has to be a limit on the length of time as well as on spending [NATION, Feb. 3]. With all the print and electronic media coverage available to the public, it is an insult to the intelligence of the American voter for a political campaign to last more than three months. It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out that a shorter campaign would be far less costly. Of course the media and other organizations that make billions of dollars running political ads and covering the campaign would probably fight the idea, not wanting to lose the money. RICHARD T. BAURMANN Atascocita, Texas

You claimed that Thomas Paine was an "18th century American writer." He may have died in America, but he was born in England. He may have written Common Sense in America, but he wrote The Rights of Man in England, and he finished The Age of Reason in prison in France. I admire America, but you don't own everything! IAN GLOVER-JAMES London

INAUGURAL BULL?

Your essays have always been one of my favorite parts of the magazine. However, Roger Rosenblatt's "The Inaugural Bill" [ESSAY, Feb. 3] is a contrived piece of criticism of Clinton, a man who is willing to lead and represent our country, a most difficult and courageous thing to do. Rosenblatt wrote, "Try as one may, it is very hard to like the President very much." He referred to the invisible bumper sticker of the second campaign: RE-ELECT ONE, GET ONLY ONE. But millions of Americans obviously disagree with Rosenblatt. We think RE-ELECT ONE, GET TWO is a grand deal. We love both the Clintons. FRED HABER Riverdale, New York

Quick! Get a veterinarian to administer a rabies shot to Rosenblatt before he bites himself or someone nearby. COLEMAN MILLER Las Vegas

COSTLY CEREMONY

Am I getting more cynical with age, or do others share my view that the millions of dollars (some of it taxpayers' money) lavished on ceremonies and parties to usher in the new presidential term [INAUGURATION '97, Feb. 3] would have been much better spent on more useful and longer-lasting activities? Why not hold a small ceremony in the Oval Office and ask those wishing to contribute to a grander Inaugural to direct their donations to worthier causes? CURT MALOY Palm Desert, California

A grade C to Clinton for his vague and dull Inaugural Address. PETER C. LATSIS Culver City, California

NO COMEBACK FOR KEATING

At the end of your report on the overturning of criminal convictions against controversial junk-bond marketer Charles Keating [BUSINESS, Feb. 3], you suggested he might once again enter the savings and loan business. Let me assure you that he will not. Notwithstanding his recent success in court, Keating has been prohibited for life by the Office of Thrift Supervision from serving in any federally insured financial institution (bank, thrift, credit union) because of his activities while running the Lincoln Savings & Loan Association. Keating was charged by the ots with multiple and willful violations of banking laws and regulations. He was given a hearing before an administrative law judge who recommended his banishment. This recommendation was upheld by the federal appellate court. The ots prohibition order issued on Oct. 22, 1993, remains in force. NICOLAS P. RETSINAS, Director Office of Thrift Supervision Department of the Treasury Washington

DIVORCE BUT NO EQUAL PAY

So Lorna Wendt wants half her husband's money as part of her divorce settlement [THE PUBLIC EYE, Feb. 3]. Surely you jest. Just because two people work toward the same goal does not mean they deserve equal compensation. The airline pilot and the stewardess are both responsible for seeing their passengers safely to their destination, but they don't do the same job and they don't deserve equal pay. The Wendts performed very different jobs. Personnel could have been employed to perform every task that Lorna did at a fraction of the $10 million originally offered in the divorce settlement. Under no circumstances does Lorna Wendt deserve half her husband's money. DARYLE V. SCOTT Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Men soon forget the struggles they encountered on the way up and how, without the help of a spouse, they would not have had either financial or psychological comfort while making the climb to the top. Lorna Wendt did not stop working when she gave up her job as a music teacher. The only thing she gave up was her salary. She took on duties equal to the challenges of a ceo. To keep a home running in the corporate style and be responsible for the upbringing of two children are not easy tasks and certainly not "de minimus," as Gary Wendt claims. Had Lorna been compensated for the 31 years of services she performed, she could have built her own fortune. In her next life she should attend Harvard Business School herself. MARY V. KEARNS Ridgewood, New Jersey

EVEN PIGEONS WON'T EAT THEM

The reason the Girl Scouts of America don't make money on sales of their cookies [BUSINESS, Feb. 3] is poor labeling, poor packaging and cheap, cheap, cheap ingredients. Flavor, odor and taste are missing. Pigeons and sparrows won't eat Girl Scout cookies when you throw them out in the yard. If the manufacturer were given the money to produce an attractive package with top-quality cookies, the Girl Scouts wouldn't be able to keep up with the orders. Stop living in a dream world, girls. RONALD C. NEETZ Chesterton, Indiana

ESCAPE ENTERTAINMENT

Your piece on the poor performance of foreign-language films at U.S. box offices [CINEMA, Jan. 13] unfairly blamed this on Americans' cultural self-absorption. You somehow missed the main point. Uplifting movies like Cinema Paradiso succeeded because they aren't arty and bleak. Audiences worldwide want films that are entertaining in order to take their minds off their troubles. PAUL F. STETSON Copenhagen