DOE LOST ITS FOCUS ON SERVING STUDENTS

I read Mr. Shapiro's column (April 8) on DOE bureaucracy with sadness. I was a new special education teacher a few years ago. There was a wonderful senior teacher available to us who was a jewel of a resource. A truly remarkable woman who cared about serving students and an expert in navigating through the cumbersome bureaucratic requirements of special education teachers. She showed us how to make a difference in students' lives. We all were very excited to have such a mentor.

Unfortunately, halfway through the first year, our mentor was notified that the principal had reassigned half of her time to assist her in completing paperwork — new teachers and special education students be damned.

The principal was trying to lead the school out of mediocrity and complacency — futilism actually — and needed help to complete the paperwork required of her by the DOE. We saw less and less of our mentor as we sank deeper and deeper into the quagmire of special education. Most of us are no longer teaching in our public schools. It seems the DOE has lost its focus — to serve the needs of our students. What a shame.

TRANSIT SYSTEM

VISUAL IMPACTS MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

From the day the city announced its plan for the Honolulu transit system The Outdoor Circle has been pressured by all sides to take a position. But to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, we have dutifully participated in the process in just about every way possible.

In the end we have concluded that in its nearly 100-year history, we have seen no other proposal that holds the potential to degrade the landscape and change the character of our communities as greatly as this project. While its ability to ease O'ahu traffic is debatable, its negative impact on the visual environment cannot be denied.

The Outdoor Circle believes the city has substantially downplayed the visual impacts the project will have on our communities and our quality of life. Nor does its draft environmental impact statement offer acceptable mitigation for the harm this project will inflict.

We believe the final environmental impact state-ment must acknowledge the mountain of negative impacts this project will create and present effective mitigation plans. If this is not done the city should abandon the proposed above-ground system and replace it with an alternative that will not be as destructive and divisive as the current proposal.

LEGISLATOR RAISES

LET'S MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD

I am still outraged with our state legislators with their 36 percent salary increase that they all so graciously accepted at a time like this. I have written my state representative, and her response was, and I quote from her e-mail, "The increase was announced in 2007 and the only time to disapprove was the 2008 session. Not knowing how bad the downturn in the economy would be, we did not avail ourselves of this opportunity. In retrospect, we should have done so."

I responded that if she was truly sincere she should take the following steps.

1. Write a check in the amount of the salary increase to the state each month for the first two years and give the increase money back. If there is no way to do that, then change the laws or give it to a charity.

2. Call a press conference and make your intentions known and at the same time challenge all other state representatives and senators to do the same.

3. Create a public list of those public servants that have agreed to do the same. This would give us all a feeling of who among you do not feel that you are "special."

There is no way I can support someone who believes they are, as pointed out in "Animal Farm," "more equal" than me.

So I would like to encourage everyone in Hawai'i at the next election to join me in voting ABI, or Anyone But Incumbents.

It is the only way we can have our voices heard.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

COSSA'S ATTITUDE REFLECTS BYGONE ERA

Ralph Cossa (April 5) throws cold water on President Obama's initiative to reduce nuclear weapons using a version of cold war logic and citing the majority opinion of the participants in one of his Pacific Forum's "strategic dialogues."

Because of Japan's concern with China, Cossa insists that the initiative should not go forward unless China agrees to "equivalent percentage-based cuts." But the U.S. and Russia each have more than 10 times China's estimated 400 nuclear warheads, so they should indeed take the first steps at reduction. And someone has to go first to build trust and demonstrate the genuineness of the intent.

Moreover, did it ever occur to Cossa that there might be a built-in bias in the Pacific Forum's selection of participants for its "strategic dialogue?" Cossa has claimed elsewhere that he is an Obama supporter. Then why not support Obama's bold initiative to rid the world of nuclear weapons? In this context, Cossa's negativity reflects an attitude of a bygone era.

WILD ANIMALS

WE AFFECTED NATIVE SPECIES, NOT CATS

The Advertiser (April 8) had a tabloid insert about "backyard conservation." In it, we were told not to feed stray cats and to support laws that prohibit the feeding/releasing of cats on public land.

The truth is protected Hawaiian birds do not hang out at local malls, beach parks, backyard housing, or restaurants where most feral cats are. They live in deep woods and high-altitude areas, and what most adversely affected them there are habitat degradation and climate changes brought on by humans.

We are the ones really destroying the endangered species of Hawai'i — and the world. Even given the availability of Earth-friendlier choices, we still do so little to alter our usual living habits and patterns. Yet why do we shift the blame to feral cats, pigs, and other animals when it was us who brought them here for our use in the first place? They have neither voice nor choice in the matter. We do.

SENIOR COMPANIONS

MAHALO TO AIDES WHO HELP KUPUNA

On the occasion of National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, 2009, the state Department of Human Services wants to publicly thank our Senior Companion Program volunteers for improving the lives of frail kupuna throughout our state. These volunteers "inspire by example" by caring for those in need, while motivating others to serve.

During 2008, SCP volunteers contributed more than 105,000 hours of service statewide. They spent a minimum of 20 hours a week visiting and caring for more than 200 frail seniors, many of whom are either shut-ins or lack a viable social support network. This enriches the lives of kupuna and provides respite to their families.

SCP, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, is sponsored locally by DHS. Hawai'i residents over the age of 60 who want to serve as senior companions can learn more by calling DHS at 586-5192.