Lalu Vaswani's letter Re 'Focus on values, not academics' (March 25) is quite contradictory.

According to L.V. "Alas! Until we understand and accept that the end of education is not knowledge but character, the above cycle will forever continue." Next, he states, "Education is for life and not just making a living. Singular focus on academic achievement will result in academic heroes and community zeroes!"

I politely disagree with the concept that the end of education is not knowledge but character. Education and character are not mutually exclusive. We have seen where the educated financial geniuses have put the world economy. At the same time, educated men and women of 'character' had warned the powers that be about the impending catastrophe e.g. the Madoff incident.

In our schools, education should comprise knowledge as well as the inculcation of values. We see this in the Hippocratic oath that the doctors take.

The teacher could be an angel with halo hovering over his/her head, without content to teach he/she would be wasting time.

Values can be incorporated into any subject and need not be taught by the direct method, i.e. lecture. The direct method might lead to 'the building up of resistance'. Good literature, including poetry can do a great job.

We need knowledge and we need values ; but even here, we must exercise caution for 'values' change and the concept of 'values' may do permanent harm to society.

I am, etc.,

LOUIS A. HEMANS

lahemans@aol.com

Maryland

USA