In his piece Mr. Sisler equates school shootings with the fact that our public school system cannot allow the promulgation of any religion (not just Christianity) as a part of its function. He is callously using the tragedies of these victims of violence to advance his own brand of zealotry.

Notice there's no mention of the shooting of a schoolgirl in a Roman Catholic School in Pennsylvania where there certainly exists an active program of Christian teaching. Neither does Mr. Sisler acknowledge that school incidences of violence are actually in the third straight year of decrease.

That fact doesn't fit into his agenda which is to force Christian beliefs on pluralistic student bodies with a total lack of respect for members of other great religions such as: Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and, yes, even those who embrace agnosticism or atheism.

Any student who is imbued with the teachings of Christ will have no trouble carrying him in their hearts throughout the school day. The truly Christian student need not hear the message of Christianity from his principal or science teacher; that is the role of his parents and the Christian clergy.

Gene L. Rickaby, Martinez