I read your recent article on depression in the Jan. 5 issue of the newspaper.

First of all, thank you for writing it. I'm a psychiatrist in private practice in San Jose and had a couple constructive criticisms.

It surprised me that in the entire article, you never brought up the topic of psychiatry, the medical specialty that deals with mental illnesses including depression. Psychiatrists are the only mental-health professionals trained to diagnose and treat depression, and rule-out possible medical illnesses that could be masquerading as depression.

Also, I think it's misleading to devote an entire paragraph to the idea that chiropractors can help depression. I don't know any chiropractors who think of themselves as specialists in depression or other mental health issues. They aren't.

It's in both of our interests for the public to get the best possible information about this important topic.

Stuart Krigel

San Jose

Question of fairness is
still subject to debate

Hacienda was tied on the list with Randol for possible closure. But San Jose Unified School District is failing to adhere to its own recommendations.

Back in October of 2003 the district presented a 30-page report to the board of education on elementary magnet schools. A very brief summary of the report is as follows:

"Each magnet school will reflect the socio-economic makeup of the district elementary population to the extent possible."

Under summary and conclusions: "Hacienda and Hammer have had limited success in achieving integration goals and have impacted neighboring schools."

What steps have already been taken? "The district put Hammer and Hacienda on notice with a two-year timeline of increasing minority enrollment beginning with recruitment for 2003­04."

Staff Preliminary recommendations, Integration/Choice: "Maintain the recruitment schedule of two years to increase enrollment of students from downtown schools with 2004­05 being the second year. If the magnet schools do not reflect an increase in student diversity by 2004­05, further reductions in funding and/or reconsideration of magnet status."

The Hacienda magnet was created under a federal court order and its main purpose was to help desegregate schools, and raise the achievement scores of economically disadvantaged students/

Hacienda is also scheduled to receive more than $18 million in Measure F Bond construction money, the most of any elementary school except Empire Gardens, a downtown area school that is in such bad shape it has to be completely rebuilt.

It would seem that our incompetent school board is willing to sweep all this under the rug and throw everyone else overboard in order to save Hacienda.

Bob Mulvany

Willow Glen