Letters: May 20, 1966

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(3 of 5)

Sir: To your list of great teachers, I would add Mrs. Mabel J. Hoyler of Frederick, Md. Her importance and dedication are not diminished one iota by the fact that she prefers to teach junior high school students. Teachers of her caliber are urgently needed to influence the unfocused minds of youth; many college students were "pointed in the right direction" by teachers like Mrs. Hoyler.

ROBERT RISK

Frederick, Md.

Sir: I saw your list of teachers, but I didn't see my teacher's name. She is the best teacher I have ever had. Her name is Miss McAllister, Grade 3, Crystal Spring, Roanoke, Va.

BOBBY MCINTOSH

Roanoke, Va.

Hippocratic Oaths

Sir: Doctors, as human beings, fall somewhat short of being perfect in the handling of each of the ever-increasing number of patients seeking their aid [May 13]. It is also painfully obvious that the astounding increase in technology has forced the physician into being somewhat more of a scientist than a holder of hands. The modern doctor spends half of his life with his patients, a quarter of his life trying to keep abreast of the enormous increase in medical knowledge, and the rest of the time trying to get some sleep. Instead of devoting two pages to an enumeration of the known ills of modern medicine, why not use them to discuss how the problem might be solved?

KENNETH SACK

Second-Year Student

Tufts University School of Medicine Boston

Sir: I was raised in the home of one of your "60-hour-a-week" physicians, whom my brothers and I were lucky to see once every two to three days. My father never owned a Rolls-Royce or had plush vacations. He rarely had time for family functions or a movie. I am 31, in debt, and struggling to support my family while completing my training. With luck I will be able to open my office at the age of 35, thereby going further into debt. However, when I die at about 55 or 60 (20 years from the time of my gala opening), I will be able to say that I am free and clear. Hasn't the time come for an Essay about the four-day-a-week, four-hour-a-day executives?

JOHN E. McHUGH, M.D.

Needham, Mass.

Hung Jury

Sir: TIME'S irresponsible cover story on Escobedo [April 29] should be cited for contempt of accuracy and objectivity and sentenced to the wastebasket.

JAMES P. MCCLELLAN

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Emory University Atlanta

Sir: As a criminal lawyer, I confess that when I turned to the article, I had a preconceived feeling that a layman's oversimplification of complex technical issues, colored perhaps by a widespread attitude toward criminal law matters and constricted by the necessarily short format of your articles, could only result in an inconsequential piece of ephemera. This letter is penance for an injustice I did you. The article was a brilliant piece of writing, painstakingly fair and objective, and constituted a real public service. You have cracked a hardened artery in my working prejudices.

HARRIS B. STEINBERG

New York City

Gary's Arrests