Posted on: Saturday, October 18, 2003
Letters to the Editor
Speeders are getting their cue from the state
Hey, lawmakers, now what are you going to do? First you bring in a very expensive van cam program that worked. People were actually slowing down. Then the people cried, "We don't like it, it's not fair," and so you voted "Let's get rid of it." (Never mind the cost.)
Then, because of the speeding problem on the Pali, it was decided to put rumble strips on the road to slow down motorists, but the people cried, "It's too high, it could damage my car," and just like that, they are now gone also.
If you don't take speeding seriously, what makes you think that all those people with those fast cars are going to take it seriously? And don't forget the huge part alcohol plays in all of this.
Ultimately it's the drivers' responsibility. However, lawmakers must do their part. So lawmakers — now what are you going to do?
Teresa K. Ubando
Gov. Lingle just wants to take over education
Gov. Lingle's initiative to gain public support for her smaller elected school districts (Advertiser, Oct. 10) is not about improving public education. Her appointment of a "senior adviser of education" is her move to gain political control of Hawai'i's education system. The governor is really aiming to change the political landscape in which our education system operates.
According to the article, the governor's plan is motivated not by any perceived inadequacies in the education system but in the fact that she has no control over the department. Her adviser says the governor's office "doesn't have anybody in the area of education," and that education is the only area in which the administration doesn't have a Cabinet member. Her problem is that that is the intent of the state Constitution.
The Constitution provides an independent elected school board that appoints the superintendent of education, who operates the school system free from political pressure from the governor and the Legislature. The Constitution's clear design is to keep our educators free of political influence. Except for the need to obtain budgetary approval from the governor and the Legislature, they are indeed independent.
The governor's plan can result in wide disparity in educational content and product among the districts. In order to provide uniformity, there must be a higher authority — either a statewide elected school board or the governor's office.
A "super body" will simply be an impediment to an efficient, focused educational system, and oversight by the governor will open the system up to political manipulation.
Walter M. Heen
International venues should settle the issue
Robert Chapman says in his Oct. 13 letter about the ceded lands that the issue is settled. Settled by whom? By the country accused of the wrongdoing?
Does he mean the legal process to seek justice for a crime is to ask the accused to be the judge? Is he telling us that the U.S. should be the one to tell us if the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i — annexation without a treaty or statehood evolving from the illegal overthrow — is legal or not?
Let us bring this issue to a neutral court. This is the recognized process to solve this kind of problem. This is why international organizations were formed.
Steve Tayama Gay high school prom coverage appreciated
Congratulations to Tanya Bricking and The Honolulu Advertiser for the style and grace with which they covered the news of Hawai'i's "first prom for gay high-schoolers" (Oct. 9).
The entire article and photographs were wholesome and happy. Thank you for the courage of reflecting the goodness of students as they anticipate the prom of their life.
Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
Lingle is a product of public school system
In his Oct. 10 letter to the editor, "Private schooling doesn't mean success," Richard Hoshino of Hawai'i Kai questions whether Gov. Linda Lingle attended public or private schools.
Just to clarify, Gov. Lingle is a product of the public school system. While living in Southern California, she graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys and later graduated from California State University, Northridge.
Gov. Lingle received a quality education in California's public schools, and she is adamant that our students here in Hawai'i have the same opportunities.
Our keiki are just as bright as those on the Mainland, and our teachers are just as committed. The problem is that our centralized public school system is badly in need of reform.
Gov. Lingle is moving forward on true education reform because it is simply not acceptable that our state ranks at or near the bottom of numerous education rankings. Our children deserve better.
Through the efforts of the Citizens to Achieve Reform in Education (CARE) committee, the Lingle administration will be taking its plans for education reform into the community to get feedback and input from residents.
Lenny Klompus
Kane'ohe
Honolulu
Waimanalo
President, PFLAG-Oahu
Senior adviser, Communications Office of the Governor
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