Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Mahalo to all who helped save Star-Bulletin

We want to express our appreciation to the citizens of Hawaii who have supported the efforts of Save Our Star-Bulletin (SOS) to continue publication of two statewide daily newspapers.

Special kudos to the thousands of citizens who signed the SOS petitions; the Oahu Neighborhood Boards; Gov. Benjamin J. Cayetano; Attorney General Earl Anzai; the Hawaii state Legislature; Mayors Jeremy Harris, James H. Apana and Stephen K. Yamashiro; the Honolulu and Hawaii County Councils; the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties; the Hawaii Newspaper Guild; the ILWU and other unions; and, of course, to the staff of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin who refused to give up in spite of the tremendous stress that they no doubt felt.

Now it is up to all of us to continue to support the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. SOS will be vigilent in watching the actions of Gannett during the months leading up to March 15, 2001, the date of the actual transfer of ownership to Black Press Ltd., so as to ensure that the people of our state will continue to have two statewide daily newspapers.

Richard Port
Save Our Star-Bulletin

Editor's note: This letter also was signed by Alice Clay, Thomas P. Gill, Kekoa Kaapu, Jean King, Ah Jook Ku, A.Q. McElrath, David Eyre, Philip Mayer and Richard S. Miller.

Bulletin shutdown archive

Sweetow returns home to rest in peace

Mike Sweetow's death is a sad event for those of us who were in the labor-management field in the 1970s. He was management's representative when I was the private-sector negotiator for the United Public Workers.

Sweetow and I negotiated many contracts for the private hospitals, and my respect for him grew with each. We became "off-duty" friends and shared many hours in Hawaii and San Francisco in that happy role.

Those candid sessions revealed that he was motivated by the determination to negotiate agreements that would leave each of our principals with dignity and respect for the other.

Mike realized that he was an unusual management representative and his discomfort with restrictions placed on him in that role led to his early retirement. This was a loss, I believe, for both management and labor.

His career continued in California and later in Pennsylvania, but his frequent visits to Hawaii were eagerly anticipated by those of us lucky enough to know him. He loved this place and the years spent here. It's good to know that Mike Sweetow will return once again. He belongs.

Stephen T. Murin

Bankruptcy process needs to be improved

Having experienced two Chapter 7 bankruptcies in two years, I suggest that our state Legislature and congressional delegation study, review and amend our bankruptcy laws.

First, they should eliminate the Chapter 7 decree and replace it with a five-year moratorium. This will give debtors five years to repay creditors by refinancing their mortgages and car payments, or by changing their lifestyles.

Second, establish an office with an ombudsman, financial analysts and attorneys to investigate debtors' assets. This way creditors can be saved, they can invest their money in businesses and properties, and bankruptcies won't ruin their retirement years.

Henry Kogachi
Wahiawa

Quotables "It's a crime against all of the people." Virginia Lowell STATE LIBRARIAN After the windows at the Kihei Public Library were smashed in the first of two acts of vandalism, resulting in its closure until safety measures are installed "I told the team, 'If you don't believe you can win, go home.' " Siuaki Livai HEAD COACH OF THE KAHUKU VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM What he said to the members of the Red Raiders in practice last week before they defeated the nationally ranked St. Louis Crusaders, 26-20, to win the state championship title

Teachers need support, not criticism

Teacher bashing seems to be the latest fad. I have found my profession being subjected to attacks and ridicule by lay people who are, obviously, from other occupations.

First, Roy Iwamoto wrote in a Nov. 27 letter that the state should hire University of Hawaii graduates with degrees in math or science to teach, as their specialized degrees are far superior to general education degrees.

Teaching is not just content knowledge; how to teach is the key to student understanding. My peers and I went through a minimum of one year of training in actual classrooms -- observing superior teachers then actually teaching under the supervision of veteran professionals.

Any teacher will tell you that this guided teaching experience is invaluable. Therefore, Iwamoto's simplistic and misinformed idea on how to solve the teacher shortage problem will not work.

Next, in a Nov. 29 letter, Donald Allen chastises me and my colleagues for wanting a professional salary. Allen says since there isn't enough money for both the needs of students and teacher raises, we "greedy" teachers are showing our true colors by demanding more money for ourselves.

I submit that there is more than enough money for books, resources and for teachers to be adequately compensated. Taxpayers and elected officials had better decide how public money is going to be spent: to build million-dollar aquariums and golf courses, or to support education.

Look at the statistics. Over 20 percent of graduates with degrees in education will never teach. Their short exposure in the classroom is enough to scare them out of the profession.

Within the first five years of teaching, more than 50 percent of teachers will quit and that number is growing to 60 percent. Everyone in this state should ask why this is happening.

Could it be that teaching is much more challenging than those outside the profession can imagine?

The state has just under 13,000 teachers and the Department of Education has to hire a minimum of 1,300 new teachers each year. Within the next five years, there will be countless numbers of administrators and teachers retiring, so the system will fall further behind in finding competent teaching professionals.

Stop bashing teachers and education and get involved by helping out in your local schools and understanding what these professionals are trying to accomplish.

Every child, parent, taxpayer and teacher wants the best person in each classroom instructing our future generation. We must work together to solve the crisis situation in which we find ourselves.

Darlene Pang

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor?
Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think.
Please keep your letter to about 200 words.
You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com
or you can fill in the online form for a faster response.
Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509.
Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.