Lessons continue despite the strike

Since our teachers are on strike, I made up a class for my fifth-grade sister and her two friends (they loved the idea). I thought I would share my lesson plan with readers.

>> News time: I explained what happened yesterday about the strike and lightly covered the China issue.

>> Math: We went over the last thing they covered, ratios and proportions.

>> Social Studies: I gave them a blank map of the United States, they had to find where each state is.

>> Spelling: We did the next lesson in their book (words ending with "ar").

>> Reading: Silent reading for 30 minutes.

>> Writing: I taught how to write creatively using the five senses.

They also wanted to do a report on Belgium for fun.

I would like to thank my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Makekau (Mililani Elementary School) for the social studies idea and my seventh-grade English teacher, Mrs. Reyes (Kailua Intermediate School) for the writing assignment.

Sarah Pourhosseini
Kalaheo High School
Kailua

Looks like rain is about to strike, too

Regarding the Hurricane Relief Fund and "saving it for a rainy day." Let's see, the governor says the state has no funds for teachers' raises. Public school teachers are out on strike. University professors are out on strike. Hmmm, I think it's starting to rain!

Fran Orian

Governor needs to rise above bruised feelings

Why has the governor singled out the University of Hawaii faculty to be the recipients of a reduced annual retirement accumulation period from 12 months to nine months?

This proposal can only be described as purposefully mean-spirited and vindictive, not to mention catastrophic for recruitment and retention of faculty.

I surmise that the governor is still perturbed about the university's rejection of the state's payroll lag and feels no particular aloha for the UHPA executive membership, in particular.

But the governor should rise above the ego-bruising and do what's right for higher education. Can he risk the incredibly negative national and international public relations exposure brought about by a complete shutdown of public education?

Can he and the state risk the potential deluge of class-action lawsuits brought about by students requesting tuition refunds for non-completion of coursework or suing for financial damages on future earnings delayed by non-completion of degree requirements?

Manny Cabral
Professor of Mathematics
Leeward Community College

[Quotables] "Wow. I can't do anything about it other than learn about it." Liane Mark, Miss Waikiki, 23, who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Mark, who plans to enter the Miss Hawaii pageant again this year, has adopted as her contest platform raising more funds for MS research. "There's a reason kids are shooting each other and it's because they're frustrated...no one taught them the value of a poem to read or music that calms, not excites." Garth Fagan, Choreographer for Broadway's "Lion King," lamenting the devaluation of the arts in schools and the media. Fagan's dance troupe performs at Leeward Community College tonight and tomorrow night.

Pet owners need to learn aloha spirit

I live in Pearl City and I am upset that neighbors' dogs and cats leave urine and fecal matter in our yard, almost daily. I wonder if these dog owners are aware of a leash law. Regarding cats, I know of at least two neighbors who have been taking in stray cats for the last several years.

I am perplexed with neighbors' flagrant disregard for my property and the well-being of my family. Where is the aloha spirit and concern for the land?

I have called the Humane Society in the past. They suggested that I talk to my neighbors, which I have done several times in a diplomatic manner. But the problem has not been resolved.

The sad thing is that the neighbors responsible for this problem are adults, not children. What messages are they sending to children? It's OK to disobey laws and disrespect people's property? It's OK to create health problems for your neighbors and their children? Disturbing messages indeed.

George Furukawa
Pearl City

Bill allows uninsured to obtain prescriptions

If you struggle to pay for prescription drugs, you are not alone. Twenty percent of Hawaii's residents lack drug coverage or have health conditions that require prescriptions that exceed their coverage.

House Bill 47 would establish the self-supporting Hawaii Rx Program to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Hawaii's residents who do not have health insurance and have to pay cash for their medicine.

With a Hawaii Rx Program card, you and all other Hawaii residents would get a discount at participating local pharmacies. The state would then reimburse the pharmacies from the rebates received from pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Advocates of House Bill 47, including Rep. Roy Takumi, the Medicine Bank, concerned senior groups and others, are working to make sure that pharmaceutical lobbyists do not destroy this effort to help Hawaii's uninsured.

Join others with your support of this bill. Its fate is now in the hands of the Ways and Means Committee. Please contact Sen. Brian Taniguchi (586-6460) or Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (586-7793).

Whether you are young or old, you deserve the minimum standard of health care. You deserve reasonable access to prescription drugs.

Heidi Wong
Kaneohe

Legislature Directory
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

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Thousands oppose lines over Waahila

The editorial on March 26 supporting HECO's plan to put high-power transmission lines over Waahila Ridge contained errors and was misleading. It implied, for example, that opposition to the plan was only from Manoa residents. This is simply not true.

People all over Oahu are in opposition. Malama O Manoa collected more than 3,000 signatures from island residents on a petition opposing HECO's plan.

The editorial also stated that, "Only two of the poles would be in the conservation district." Again, this is simply not true. Eight of the 100-foot poles will run through conservation land.

Richard R. Day

Why should everyone pay to bury lines?

Regarding the Kamoku-Pukele 138 kV power line: I have to shake my head when I hear that certain neighborhoods in town want underground lines, and they want everybody else to pay for it. Just take a drive through their community. They already have the best schools, well-maintained parks and streets, and big, expensive homes. That's so different from my community.

Then, I ask you, if this power line is rejected on Waahila Ridge, and it goes underground in Palolo, why are we the ones to pay for it?

I would rather have a few more dollars in my wallet to spend on my family instead of the views of a ridgeline in town.

Mary Olaso
Waialua

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