This is in response to Walter Hoffman's May 10 letter ["Fredericksburg Academy gets education right"].

While I sincerely congratulate Mr. Hoffman for his own children's educational success, he must be seriously out of touch to think that the vast majority can afford the tuition at Fredericksburg Academy, which is more than the cost of tuition at the second-ranked public university in the nation: the University of Virginia.

Of course it is a wonderful investment; so is buying a BMW or a Mercedes--if you have the money, which is exactly my point.

Perhaps Mr. Hoffman has not been reading his Free Lance-Star to see that, never mind a private education, some folks are trying to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and gas in their cars.

Mimi Dempsey

Spotsylvania