View from Charleston

In reference to the article, “Center’s name too close for Mount View” (BDN, May 17).

I was appalled at SAD 3 Superintendent Daniel Lee’s biased and uninformed opinion of the Mountain View Youth Development Center and its residents.

We are a group of teens who have made mistakes – everyone makes them. I am here solely to make myself a better person. I attend classes and groups daily, I learn how to help others and myself in all aspects of life, and I’m also training for a career. I aim to be a support to the community; I don’t want to simply exist in the community.

This is exactly why the facility is called a development center. All of us are working to improve ourselves.

It is wrong for Lee to say – tongue in cheek or not – that we should change the name of our facility to “Happy Acres” or “Pleasant View,” and that we “have time on our hands” to make a new sign.

I invite Lee to tour the facility and see what the residents here are really like. I have no doubt that he will be surprised. I also must say – tongue in cheek – that Lee should think of changing the name of Mount View [High School] to “Prejudiced View.”

Brandon Smith

Mountain View Youth Development Center

Charleston