Posted on: Saturday, November 23, 2002
Letters to the Editor
'Kids Voting' program a wonder to behold
What a great idea to have the youngsters involved in our electoral process through the "Kids Voting" program.
For the kids participating and getting firsthand knowledge of this biennial privilege of our electorate is a wonder to behold — like in that TV commercial where the parents' jaws drop and eyes widen when their child spouts off his wisdom about elections.
To the organizers of this wonderful program, "Mahalo." Hopefully, when these children reach age 18, they will take that first step and vote.
Roy E. Shigemura
Governance needed for getting resources
As stated in your Nov. 8 issue, "Governance is important, but it is not the central issue facing our school system. Instead, it is getting more resources to teachers, more resources into the classrooms and improving the interaction between individual teacher and individual student."
But don't these things depend on governance? As others have observed, the current governance of the public education system seems to be characterized by everyone being in charge — and no one being in charge. As long as this condition exists, I doubt teachers and students will get the adequate resources and support they need.
Would the creation of seven local school boards rectify the problem? Would the districts and boards receive funds from a centralized source? How would the funds be divided up? Would the Legislature be able to issue educational mandates? What would happen to DAGs?
If the seven school boards still have to interact with these administrative entities, that would seem to make clear lines of authority and identifying who's in charge even more difficult. How would the seven school boards effectively address this problem?
Reid Tamashiro We need a commission to look into state's sins
Rare is the month when there isn't a report of a Hawai'i government entity being taken to task for being on the bottom rung of the totem pole when compared to the other 49 states.
The perception is that Hawai'i needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into modern times with omissions and commissions such as failure to apply for readily available federal grants, fouling up extant programs, putting square pegs into round holes for political gain and, too often, hands in the cookie jar.
Some very recent examples are being No. 47 in the list of states for the Immunization Program for Children, failing to apply for the free data base to help protect rape victims, the HUD mess. We could go on and on.
Even the attempts to correct the present archaic criminal justice system that has made the state a criminal paradise by using a constitutional amendment is attacked by the entrenched special interests.
This is a new century, and the old and picturesque must stand aside. An in-depth review of all government functions by a select committee akin to the old federal Hoover Commission is needed and the recommendations forthcoming implemented without regard to the present power brokers.
Frank D. Slocum
TV helicopter makes quite a noise at dawn
Dale Hood's Nov. 19 letter regarding KHNL's helicopter hit a nerve. That thing is loud!
Sometimes it hovers over my Waikele home for five minutes at a time at the crack of dawn. Even when it's moving slowly around the area, it rumbles the houses enough that I, my neighbors and our animals are up for the day — and not in a good mood.
Can't it hover higher or muffle the noise?
Gayle Smith
Jackson's behavior was indefensible
Anyone who knows me will agree that I think children are an amazing gift. Anyone who knew me 15 years ago knew my surfboard held more value. But something happens when you try to have children. And try. And try. And try.
When it eventually happened, I changed. I became Everyone's Mother. I am the Fierce Protector of all children. At our Tiny Tots group, I'm the mom redirecting stray children back to the play area.
So I was astonished when I saw news reports of Michael Jackson dangling a baby from a four-story balcony in Berlin. A squirmy baby kicking and thrashing, possibly terrified despite the cloth placed over his face. How would Wacko Jacko explain his behavior to couples who have experienced infertility, pregnancy loss or the death of a child?
Paula Gillingham Bender
Keep movies in Waikiki
I am saddened by the loss of the Waikiki Theaters. They had very good movies at that complex. I hope that Consolidated Theaters will find a site somewhere in Waikiki to have movies shown again.
Frankie Repalda
Waipahu
Wai'anae
Waikele
