BENEFITS OF ALL-GIRLS EDUCATION UNPROVEN

I am responding to your second commentary touting the results of a UCLA study as strongly supporting the advantages of attending all-girls' private schools ("A look at the value of all-girls' education," July 24). As the researchers emphasized, the higher SAT scores and greater self-confidence and interest in graduate school shown by the all-girls' schools graduates (and cited by Ms. Theunick) are not directly attributable to the single-sex aspect of the high schools. They are more a reflection of the differences between same-sex and coed schools in other characteristics, such as selectivity and parents' education.

Even in this day and age, girls need empowering influences. Some findings from the UCLA study solidly support the notion that the particular curricula, teaching styles and student-teacher relationships in all-girls' schools are advantageous to girls. It remains to be seen whether, down the road, women who experienced same-sex education retain advantages that are as yet unstudied.

Certainly, the prevalence of all-female school graduates among Nobel Laureates and other leaders, as mentioned by Ms. Theunick, suggest that they do.

Gay Armsden | Kailua

SURRENDERING PETS

FEE HELPS WITH COSTS, AND THERE IS GRACE

Suzanne Roig's July 21 article about the increasing number of residents who are surrendering their pets due to financial hardship stated that the Hawaiian Humane Society charges a pet surrender fee.

To clarify, we request $25 to assist with the high cost of veterinary care, housing, quality food, exercising and training expenses, as well as all the many other services that we employ to invest in the animal's quality of life and well being.

However, it is our policy that if an owner expresses that this or any amount is a hardship, we simply take the animal and use community donations to pay for all expenses.

Pamela Burns | President and CEO, Hawaiian Humane Society

STATE DEFICIT

WHAT RHOADS WON'T TELL US IS IMPORTANT

In response to Rep. Karl Rhoads ("Lingle shields rich from 'shared sacrifice,' " July 30): Rep. Rhoads proclaims down with the rich, shared sacrifice, shared pain, pull together and redistribute the wealth.

He faults Gov. Lingle and rich "private-sector actors" who own businesses that provide jobs and wages which pay the taxes levied by government for state financial woes.

He proclaims Gov. Lingle is "unfairly pinning the blame for the recession on state workers" versus looking in the mirror. When times were good and state tax coffers bulged, both the administration and Legislature continued to increase the scope, size and cost of state government to unsustainable levels versus eliminating unneeded positions when vacated and eliminating fraud and waste.

He predicts the "gutting" of government services. Cuts far deeper than those he warns of would have to be enacted before reductions would reach needed essential services.

His plan to maintain the status quo and solve the state's financial woes are once again to raise taxes, but only temporarily. Do you believe the state will raise your taxes temporarily?

Al Armand | Honolulu

NORTH KOREA

WORKING TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE

With respect to recommendations for advancing human rights in North Korea expressed in Roberta Cohen's Aug. 2 commentary, they can be benefited by establishment of U.S.-North Korean diplomatic relations, conclusion of a peace treaty to end the Korean War, and engagement of North Korea in the Global Zero initiative to completely abolish nuclear weapons.

Glenn D. Paige | Honolulu

UH FOOTBALL

RESTORING NAME A 'TEACHABLE MOMENT'

A true "teachable moment" for the University of Hawai'i would be to restore "Rainbow Warriors" as its football team's historic name. When UH shed "Rainbow," it institutionalized the identical exclusionary sentiments for which it now disciplines its coach.

Bruse Eckmann | Honolulu

MCMACKIN

MEDIA HAS STOOPED TO GOTCHA-GAME LEVEL

I know little of coach Greg McMackin and otherwise couldn't care, but this needs to be said. It is bad enough that there has always been plenty of goody two-shoes, most of them absolute hypocrites, poised to excoriate a public figure for virtually any breach of language or deed. It is so much worse that our media supports this.

Years past, the media had some sense of discretion and proportion. They had a maturity that the hypocrites did not.

Now, they are more than happy to support the gotcha-game. It is sensational, and it sells.

The fact that it has the potential to ruin the lives of people whose only offense is being a public figure caught in a common indiscretion or insensitivity has no bearing. Selling newspapers or airtime is the name of the game.

The day is coming that virtually every aspect of all of our lives will be open to recording and potential exposure to the public. When that day comes, will the media finally go back to some degree of maturity in reporting?

Ron Kienitz | Kailua

RIVER STREET PROJECT

CITY HAS A CHANCE TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS

The River Street residence project proposed for the site near the corner of River Street and Vineyard Boulevard is an opportunity for the city to both address a shortage of housing and implement a best practice in the field of homelessness.

It brings together sectors in the community that, in every other city that has been successful in addressing homelessness, need to come together to promote new housing capacity for low-income persons in Honolulu.

The money the city has set aside for this project is similar or less per unit than the state subsidization to preserve Kukui Gardens units. Why aren't the targeted residents for this project not equally deserving of a chance at a place to safely sleep and keep their belongings? When fear paralyzes us from taking action, the outcome is not likely to be one that we will be proud of: leaving people out in the cold and allowing more blight to grow in our city streets.

Connie Mitchell | The Institute for Human Services