MAIL CALL AND CORRECTIONS

New York State's governor and legislative leaders have variously described the state's system for funding public education as a "dinosaur" and dysfunctional. The state's highest court, as well as the lower- court judge George Will castigates, have merely confirmed those judgments. If the governor and legislature are truly affronted by an unfair finance system, they should fix it. Yet for nearly two years, they have done nothing. Given the choice between inaction by the "right" branches of government and action by the "wrong" branch of government, most New Yorkers, if not George Will, prefer action.
Timothy G. Kremer, Executive Director
New York State School Boards Association
Latham, N.Y.

Shooting the Messenger?

Jonathan Alter correctly contends that journalists must have the privilege of protecting sources who leak information critical to the transparency needed by a functioning democracy ("Your Right to Know Is at Stake," Feb. 28). However, this privilege should not extend to protecting sources who leak information for the sole purpose of discouraging dissent. Exposing Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA agent didn't give the public useful information. To the contrary, destroying her career was punishment for her husband's exposing a presidential lie. Protecting such a source suppresses the flow of vital information to the public. Trying to extend the reporter's privilege to such unconscionable cases may, in the long run, weaken its defense.
John Alexander
Old Town, Maine

Corrections

In "When Does Autism Start?" we misidentified the children in two photos. The brother and sister on page 46 are Will Hurty, 9, and Sarah Hurty, 4, not William and Hannah Marquis. The boy on page 52 is Tyler Klein, not Jason Klein.