At Hardy Middle School, a principal worth keeping

Regarding the Nov. 13 Metro article "Not eager to march to Rhee's drum":

How ironic that a schools chancellor who is not "warm and fuzzy" but has demonstrated her ability to assemble successful educational teams may seek to remove Hardy Middle School Principal Patrick Pope. Mr. Pope's critics say that he is not "warm and fuzzy," either, but agree he has built a successful music- and arts-based curriculum.

Twice as many students started sixth grade at Hardy this year as were in my daughter's class four years ago. I doubt any other D.C. public school could make the same claim.

When she attended Hardy, my adolescent daughter willingly (and sometimes even enthusiastically) got out of bed at 5:30 a.m. so that she could be on time to band practice. Like many Hardy families, we are 45 minutes to an hour from the school in upper Georgetown by Metro and bus.

Hardy Middle School graduates go to many great schools, including Duke Ellington School of the Arts, School Without Walls, Banneker High School and Wilson High School. D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee should resist the efforts by a vocal few to add alternative programming. The existing program and principal are a D.C. public schools success story.

Michael Coscia, Washington

The writer is a former treasurer of the Hardy Middle School PTA.