Teaching social skills
to students is beneficial

I think social skills should be taught in high schools because some students don't even know how to use the "magic words" we were taught as children - "please," "thank you," "I'm sorry."

All students would benefit from learning or practicing up on their social skills As an example, teens would have a better chance at a job if they had good social skills. Children would be much more prepared for the "real world" if they knew social skills ("Brodie: Isle grads can't hack workplace," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 7).

I don't, however, think that grades should be given for social skills. If people were to be graded I think that a lot of problems would come about. For example, some teachers may take all of the credit for a well-mannered child and put blame on the parents whose child isn't well-mannered.

Actually, all parents should be commended for teaching their children social skills. Whether the child chooses to use them or not is the child's decision. But I think that it would be good if there were lessons to refresh our memory on social skills.

Dominique K. Apostol
Grade 9, Farrington High School

---

Class on manners
shouldn’t be mandatory

Students don't need a class on social skills. They can, instead, acquire them from their parents and the adults around them.

If all students had to take a class on social skills to graduate, those who already possess these social skills will be deprived of a chance to take other courses they feel they need.

My solution is to have a social skills test similar to the HSTEC, which students must pass to graduate. It should be taken at the same time, so that if a student doesn't pass, he/she can take a social skills class as an elective and take the test again and pass.

In my solution the social skills class is not mandatory, but the social skills are still mandatory. Those who have already acquired such skills won't have to waste time by taking a class.

Catherine Cachero
Grade 9, Farrington High School

---

By any other name, a lie is still a lie

When the Republicans Orson Swindle and Sam Slom presented the facts against their opponents they were called down for negative campaigning and negative politics.

In A. A. Smyser's column (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 12), he states that Abercrombie was guilty of a lot of distortion and some untruths in his attack on Swindle.

I believe that the word "lies" should be substituted for "untruths." William Safire's column (Jan. 1) called Hillary Clinton "a congenital liar." Maybe it would be less offensive if he said congenital untruther. What a disgusting play on words.

Alfred C. Grilho

---

Teachers’ days are
marked by long hours, sacrifice

Many seem to think that teachers are overpaid. Many believe that teachers work only nine months of the year and work a seven-hour day.

If this were true, then I would agree that teachers are overpaid. But the truth is, teachers do much more. Most teachers are at work well before the students, and stay much later than required. Many of us make ourselves available to students during recess and lunch - time that is technically for personal use. Teachers are also entitled to a 40-minute preparation period that is to be used for preparing lessons and grading papers. Often, this time is sacrificed for meetings with parents or students.

Teachers also spend personal time to chaperone school-sponsored activities during the evenings and on weekends. And let's not forget that every teacher takes work home. Most of us do this willingly, and never give it a second thought. It's something that everyone has taken for granted.

All we are asking is that we be paid what we're worth. When we became teachers, none of us expected to be rich. But give us salaries that reflect the job that we do.

Glen K. Iwamoto
Teacher