Discipline may account for low Ritalin use

A May 9 front-page article suggests that the reason Ritalin use in Hawaii is the lowest in the nation is that "we don't have enough child psychiatrists." That reasoning is open to question.

I propose that the reason we have a low use of Ritalin is that the local population does not tolerate spoiled brats. There are no proven biological reasons for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. This is strictly an American disease that is non-existent in many places because poor behavior is not tolerated in many other societies.

I've been a special education teacher for more than 20 years and have seen a high correlation of so diagnosed ADD kids from parents with very poor parenting skills.

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree and no amount of Ritalin will do it any good without improving the tree.

Richard Sasaki
Captain Cook, Hawaii

Try creative ways to improve schools

After the teachers' strike, there lingers the larger and perhaps more critical educational issue of the failure of Hawaii's students to score well on exams. Hawaii has continually been embarrassed by having among the worst test results for all 50 states. Why does this happen and what are we doing to fix it?

I recommend an incentive plan to schools that rewards the school based on overall improvement. A school would be given $20,000 if it can raise SAT scores 5 percent. That school could use the money for equipment but not in the budget.

It is time we approach our educational disaster with creative strategies. Parents should create good home study habits. We helped teachers get raises, now let's help our children raise their grades.

Harry Jackson

Tourneys mean a lot to public schools

Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu showed his knowledge of how things are really run in Hawaii by rescinding his decision to cancel state athletic tournaments in the wake of the teachers' strike.

In the beginning, Charles Reed Bishop set up the system for the public-school students to be the future workers, while the private-school students were to be the managers of the aina. No matter how hard or how much you know, the key to success is to be from the private schools or to have good connections.

My best memories of public high school in Hawaii are at the state tournaments because they were our chance to prove that we were just as good as those who were to be the future leaders and the ones who always got the best jobs due to their high school connections.

Mr. LeMahieu, it's not always what you know...it's who you know. In sports, it's practice, practice, practice, etc. until you are perfect. I developed many good habits because of sports compared to academics, where I got only a few chances to be perfect. Mr. LeMahieu, "Let the games begin!"

Bob Brennan

[Quotables] "Today is an example of the system being fair." President George W. Bush, Reacting to Attorney General John Ashcroft's decision to postpone the execution date of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh after the FBI announced it had failed to turn over 3,000 pages of evidence to McVeigh's lawyers. "It's lucky I have Roadrunner." Megan Huber, Hawaii Kai teen-ager, saying she could still communicate with friends via the Internet over the weekend, but had no working phone since Thursday when contractors digging post holes cut through heavy cable lines, cutting off phone service to 3,500 customers.

Kahle is doing the Lord's work

Mitch Kahle is certainly bringing a lot of attention to the churches in our city by noticing the cross and making note in the media of the cross. This gets the word out to all, and that is just what God wants us to do. Thank you, Mr. Kahle, for your obedience to God.

Lloyd Ignacio
Kailua

First Amendment protects church, too

Mitchell Kahle is in the news again, this time targeting the cross at St. Jude Catholic Church in Makakilo.

According to reports, Kahle who heads Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, cites the First Amendment as grounds for requiring removal of the 20-foot cross.

So, what does the First Amendment have to say on that subject? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..."

Or does Kahle have a different version of the Constitution?

Ken Armstrong

To some, it will always be Dillingham Field

With due respect to the community board recommending the renaming of Dillingham Field, such a change is no longer the sole privilege of a vocal, local group. It is akin to a tribal group wishing to rename Mount Rushmore a local native American name. Let them do so, but don't expect me to change my U.S. atlas. Dillingham Field is an heirloom of World War II importance. Local residents may call it whatever they wish. But it will remain Dillingham Field to me.

Phil Olsen

Mansho's fine was 'harsh assessment'

Recent commentaries have been critical of the Campaign Spending Commission in its handling of violations by Councilwoman Rene Mansho. The commission assessed an administrative "fine" of $40,000, of which no less than $10,000 must be from personal funds. The remainder of the "fine" was a forfeiture of funds remaining in her campaign account, which last showed a balance of $30,000.

The $10,000 administrative fine was a very harsh assessment. The remaining violations were a laundry list of unreported or improperly reported contributions and expenditures. There was no evidence that Mansho gained personally from these infractions. However, the violations were of such magnitude that some sanction was called for. A reasonable alternative was to require Mansho to forfeit the remaining funds. There is no legal remedy to force her to refund money to contributors.

Furthermore, Mansho is barred from running in the 2002 Council elections. The Campaign Spending Commission is bound to carry out its responsibilities in adherence to the law and within the jurisdiction of the campaign finance statute.
Robert Y. Watada

Executive Director, Campaign Spending Commission

Hilton isn't a 'village' anymore

I suggest Hilton rename itself Hilton Hawaiian City. It is a far cry from being a "Village."

The recent addition to the complex has worsened the traffic problem in the Ala Moana Boulevard-Hobron Lane area. The construction of yet another tower will make the situation much worse, in addition to blocking the views of occupants in the other Hilton towers and neighboring buildings. I hope the owners of the hotel will withdraw this proposal.

Toufiq A. Siddiqi

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