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Editorials
Tuesday, August 22, 2000School-farm program
should be supportedThe issue: A farm program for Makaha Elementary School has been assured of continued operation after months of conflict with a new principal.
ABOUT 20 years ago Luigi "Gigi" Cocquio, a former Catholic priest, and a colleague took over an overgrown five-acre plot in Makaha leased from the Catholic Church and transformed it into a farm, with livestock as well as crops. The farm adjoins Makaha Elementary School, and 13 years ago Cocquio launched a program that teaches the Makaha pupils about plants, animals and Hawaiian culture through hands-on experience with farm chores.
Over the years the farm, called Hoa 'Aina O Makaha, has become an institution in the Makaha community. However, the program's future has been in doubt since January, when Clarence De Lude became principal of Makaha Elementary.
De Lude initially refused to continue the school's association with the program. He announced that he intended to use the school's limited funds to emphasize reading rather than continue to spend the $6,000 that had been paid to the farm annually for supplies. He also raised objections about legal liability and other concerns that had never prevented previous principals from supporting the program.
De Lude's policies regarding the farm and other matters have caused an uproar among Makaha Elementary parents and faculty. At a meeting of the Board of Education last week, several teachers told the board that morale among the faculty had sunk so low that many were contemplating leaving the school. One teacher said, "An atmosphere of fear and mistrust prevails."
In the face of the protests, the principal backed off. De Lude announced that the school and the farm will draw up a contract to continue the program. He claimed -- contrary to other sources -- that he was never opposed to the farm program although he had serious concerns. Now that those concerns have been resolved, he said, the program will continue.
Cocquio, who agreed to dispense with the $6,000 annual payment, hailed the principal's decision, noting that the community feels the farm is "a very important part of the education of the children." In addition to the usual activities, he said, the farm program will emphasize reading in support of the principal's agenda.
ONE parent, Sherron Tapia, who had spoken in favor of the program at the board meeting, said the opportunity for her daughter to participate in the program was a factor in her decision to move her family from Aiea to Makaha. She said she was "really encouraged."
Cocquio has started something that would benefit children all over Hawaii. Rather than placing roadblocks in his path, educators should be encouraging him and others like him.
Perot’s party splits
over candidate choice
WHILE the Democrats in Los Angeles were going through the motions of nominating Al Gore for president in an exercise utterly devoid of drama, Ross Perot's Reform Party was demolishing itself in nearby Long Beach in a conflict that resembled farce more than tragedy.
Far from the coronations that capped the Republican and Democratic conventions, the Reform Party engaged in a civil war that may have been the death knell for the party that Ross built. Emerging from the battle were two weak factions with rival presidential nominees.
The nominations won't be worth much to Pat Buchanan or his rival, John Hagelin, unless they can get $12.5 million in federal income tax checkoff money on the basis of Perot's 1996 election showing of 8 percent of the vote.
Each will have to make his case to the Federal Election Commission but the issue will probably be decided in court. An argument could be made that neither candidate deserves the money because the Reform Party no longer exists.
The controversy makes a mockery of the concept of public financing of campaigns, which was badly damaged anyway by the spending sprees of the major party candidates.
As for the man who started it all, Perot dropped out of the Reform Party's activities two years ago and has not been heard from in the current controversy. However, many Perot loyalists refuse to accept Buchanan because his emphasis on abortion and other moral issues conflicts with Perot's focus on fiscal responsibility.
After winning 19 percent of the national vote in 1992, when he was a fresh presence on the political scene, Perot was only a minor factor in the 1996 election. With two candidates vying for legitimacy, and no Perot in evidence, the Reform Party appears to be on the road to oblivion.
Even if he were still active, Perot would probably not be a significant factor in the campaign. His main message of fiscal responsibility has been rendered obsolete by the era of budget surpluses.
Consumer activist Ralph Nader may be more of a factor in the election than Buch-anan, who was favored by only 2 percent of voters in recent polls.
Nader, the Green Party candidate, could take votes from Gore on environmental and consumer issues, but that would be to George W. Bush's benefit.
Nader, who is as quirky as Perot -- and like him a protectionist on trade policy -- claims that there's no difference between Bush and Gore, but that is hardly the majority opinion.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited PartnershipRupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
