Think positively and give Kim a chance

Aside from all the critics, I urge everyone to give Glenn Kim a chance ("Controversial judge gets OK," Star-Bulletin, March 17). He will be under public scrutiny, as he has been in the past, but everyone -- everyone -- has made mistakes and enemies.

There is far too much criticism in today's world. So unless you want to step into Mr. Kim shoes and walk in his footsteps, don't waste energy on negative attitudes. Give positive energy and see how things work out.

Kim confirmed despite Hee's bad behavior

As a witness to the proceedings, I can say that coverage of the Glenn Kim judicial confirmation does not remotely convey the disgraceful behavior of Senate Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee.

Hee made every attempt to manufacture evidence, delay, obfuscate and browbeat the nominee, the Senate and the public to get his way.

After an additional and unnecessary two-plus hour caucus, Hee gave a rambling and, at times, widely tangential, incoherent and repetitive speech that the Senate rejected 16-9.

Hee's bullying failed and Hawaii gained an exceptional individual to the judiciary.

Supervision is key in prescribing meds

In response to "Don't let psychologists act as physicians" (Letters, March 11), first of all, congratulations to writer Kristen Low, a psychiatry resident, on her achievement in becoming a physician.

I agree that the mentally ill should get first-class medical care. First-class treatment costs money; if you have the money, then great, and if no money then we look for alternatives. Low mentioned House Bill 202 and Senate Bill 900 relating to telepsychiatry as an alternative. Wouldn't that be a lower standard of care for the mentally ill? When I mentioned to a colleague about telepsychiatry, she said, "Wow, that means I would be in a room with a camera looking at me ... what happened to the human touch?"

The psychologist being able to prescribe medication is an alternative. I am quite sure that a licensed physician would supervise closely. Nurses with certain credentials are able to prescribe medication under the supervision of licensed physicians, and that system seems to work.

I have worked closely with psychiatrists and psychologists. I have no problems with either profession except when the family that I was working with got the billing statement and saw the difference in the hourly rate.

Unless you and other physicians are willing to take a pay cut and help "Mr. And Mrs. Joe Schmoe," alternatives to prescribing medication will need to be considered.

John Ahokovi
Ewa Beach

Put the barge under a microscope, too

Where's the environmental impact statement for Young Brother's new barge (Star-Bulletin, March 10)?

If the Superferry needs one, let's be fair and require one for Young Brothers also.

Bush, Cheney are roots of the problems

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is dedicated to President Bush. I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was dedicated to Vice President Cheney.

Both men are sacrificial lambs to their superiors who they are protecting. It's unfortunate that both of them are being brought down and not their superiors. Everyone in the chain of command is responsible and should be punished accordingly.

Congress is not being fair. Members should get to the root of the problem instead of just cutting off the branches.

This brings me to what has happened in Congress with legislation to bring the soldiers back from Iraq, which was stopped short by Republicans. Instead of wasting time, stop the war effectively by impeaching Bush and Cheney. They are the root of the problem.

---

BACK TO TOP
|

Dedicated staff makes strides at WIS

I have been a classroom teacher at Waianae Intermediate School for 30 years and am currently the Accreditation and Title I coordinator. I was both surprised and disheartened by Kriss Conley's commentary in the March 11 issue of your newspaper. Mr. Conley said that WIS doesn't have an established English curriculum, requirements for behavior and concern about classroom conditions.

First, WIS does have an English curriculum for both the 7th and 8th grades, which Conley may or may not like. The seventh-graders use the America's Choice Ramp-Up curriculum, while the eighth-graders use Reader's and Writer's Workshops. English coaches work closely with the English department. Like other English teachers, Conley was given a curriculum map and daily lessons to follow. He was also given more than 300 new hardback books to use in his English classes for independent reading by his students. To improve literacy, the entire school participates in the Million Word Campaign, also known as the 25 Books Campaign.

Second, WIS does have requirements for behavior called Rituals and Routines and guidelines for behavior spelled out in the Department of Education's Chapter 19 regulations. Middle school philosophy and practices are foundational at WIS. Conley and other Core Team teachers are given daily advisory periods to counsel students in their teams and to work with their own advisees (homeroom students). As necessary, counselors, administration, parents and others participate with the teams and their students to address serious behavioral and academic needs. Discipline and referral statistics have improved the last few years.

As for classroom conditions, scheduled renovations have been repeatedly canceled the past three years because of the booming construction industry and lack of bids to complete renovations. However, avenues for repairs and classroom maintenance are in place.

Yes, WIS is a restructured school, which means different things at different schools. As part of the restructuring provider, WIS' America's Choice Design Team meets weekly after school hours to help the school make Adequate Yearly Progress on the annual Hawaii State Assessment. These meetings are open to interested staff.

WIS is also going through accreditation, and this gives the entire school and the community we serve the opportunity to improve student learning and achievement.

Mr. Conley, you left us a year ago and returned this year to teach at WIS. Instead of leaving us again, I invite you to remain and be a part of the solution, especially since you live in the community as I do.

'Restructuring' is another DOE hoax

Classroom teacher Kriss Conley recently explained his decision to quit ("Waianae Intermediate is hitting critical mass," Gathering Place, March 11).

He confirms what some increasingly suspect: "Restructuring" is a just another state Department of Education hoax that bureaucrats use to pressure classroom teachers to do a job they refuse to do -- establish an academic curriculum. Absent a common curriculum, the statewide, one-size-fits-all "assessment" test scores -- upon which restructuring decisions are based -- are meaningless.

If nothing else, the obscenely over-funded DOE might have provided his school an adequate supply of textbooks. It took five of the six years I taught at his school for my department head to scrounge up enough math textbooks so my students could each have one. Reading his account, one gathers very little has changed as the result of restructuring except to get worse for students.

Conley's dedication to excellence and devotion to his students will be missed.

The DOE is a metastasizing cancer on the children of this state that cannot be arrested, but must be cut away. Voters must come to the rescue, wrest control of public education from state officials and put it in the hands of county-level school boards. Clearly the state can't hack it.