Letters to the Editor
Friday, August 23, 1996

BOE sets low expectations
for public school students

In response to your Aug. 21 article on the Board of Education loosening up the rules for high school graduation, I find the quotes by Board Chairman Mitsugi Nakashima absolutely unbelievable. He says that schools, in establishing zero tolerance toward negative student behavior and conduct, are becoming less than "gentler and kinder" learning places. Does he think we should be running country clubs or institutions of learning?

Why do Hawaii public schools, especially high schools, consistently rank in the bottom of all schools in this country? Maybe it's about time we cracked down and established high standards for our kids to live up to, not the mediocrity the BOE seems satisfied with.

How are kids expected to compete in the 21st century unless they are expected to come to school every day ready to learn? Why do so many people here go into severe debt to send their kids to private schools? Does he think parents have any faith left in Hawaii public schools?

I find it a farce that educators are more concerned with graduation rates in schools than in doing the job they are paid to do. When will the BOE wake up and get off its collective high horse and start demanding high standards for our kids? Our children will only aspire to excellence if it is expected of them.

Ray Schab
Kailua


Clinton dodges the issues
about his womanizing ways

Elisabeth I. Kim's Aug. 19 letter, "There is no solid proof that Clinton is womanizer," overlooks two important points:

1) There has been "no proof to support any allegations about President Clinton" precisely because he keeps dodging the hearings, trying to claim executive privilege, or giving whatever other reasons his lawyers can dream up.

2) If Hillary did indeed "forgive him long ago" - why did he need forgiveness?

Robert Engle


Memminger shot off mouth
when he wrote about guns

My wife and I have been unashamed fans of Charles Memminger's columns. It was, therefore, something of a shock to see him not only drop humor, but to deal with the matter of allowing any-and-all to carry handguns in a manner intolerant of those who differ, labeling them "anti-gun nuts" (Honolulu Lite, Aug. 12).

The situation Memminger uses on which to hang this issue is that of someone being held up while at an automatic teller machine. From the crook's point of view, a gun being carried as you approach the ATM may simply give an added incentive for a surprise attack, the reward of which will now include another handgun.

Leaving the gun in the glove compartment of the car obviously won't do the job. Carrying it in a holster produces the scenario of being accosted by someone with a gun or maybe a raised tire-iron, and inducing him to stay still while you reach into your holster, take out the gun, flick off the safety, and then what?

Finally, let us suppose you have the gun in one hand, are able to work the ATM with the other, and someone taps you on the shoulder for a light for a cigarette or change for a phone call. Blam!!

Please, no more serious columns from Memminger. We'll assume this one was ghosted.

John C. Roberts


View of Mililani tragedy
from the land Down Under

In Australia, we are still coming to terms with the Port Arthur massacre. Our nation is torn between those who feel that the right to bear arms is God given and they will shoot anyone who says otherwise, and those who believe that arming people creates a propensity to use the weapons.

Study upon study has demonstrated that firearms clearly exacerbate violence and step up the degree of response. Lack of firearms in the Mililani situation would have reduced the ability of Michael Lau to exact such a horrible vengeance on his neighbors.

By the time Lau found a substitute weapon, there is every chance that his anger would have cooled.

Bill Woerlee
Bridgewater, South Australia


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