to the Editor
Give our schools a chance to succeed
It is urgent that the House and Senate pass House Bill 2331, calling for a vote on a constitutional amendment to establish local school boards. Some ask, "What will this bill do for us?" The answer: "It will open the door for change."Many are self-serving in resisting this idea, while some are simply afraid of making a wrong decision. Change is typically difficult, but our failed education system evidences a desperate need. Hawaii schools deserve this long overdue chance for much-needed change.
The complete "nuts and bolts" are not yet in place, but we must begin somewhere. When a system has been in place for decades and is failing our students, teachers and taxpayers, we must look at change. The only thing that this bill does is open the door for possible change. Please, open the door!
He who is afraid to take a step remains stuck in time. Let's have "A New Beginning" in education!
Cheryl Botts
Kailua
Reforms must focus on the students
Increasing the number of school boards is not the answer to improving public education in Hawaii as Billie Orr advocates ("Reform won't occur without local school boards," Letters, Feb. 2).I am a public school principal, and I believe that students and student achievement must be at the forefront of any educational change. More school boards will not improve the school environment and will not improve student achievement.
Reform proposals articulated by Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto and Mitch D'Olier do focus on reforms that will have a positive impact on student achievement. These proposals include the following:
>> By implementing weighted student formula that allocates school funding based on student needs, principals and school communities will be empowered to determine the needs of the school and to allocate funds accordingly.These are responsible reform proposals that put the focus where it belongs -- at the school, where the mission is to make sure that our students will be successful, not only in school, but in life outside of school.>> Smaller class sizes are crucial to student learning. Studies show that the relationship between the student and the teacher is the most important factor in student achievement, and fewer students in a class can allow for more effective student-teacher relationships.
>> Rigorous standards and professional development go hand-in-hand. Along with high expectations for student learning, we must provide professional development for teachers so they can learn to meet the needs of all students and for principals to learn how to lead and manage schools to improve student achievement.
Jan Iwase
Mililani
Let's unite to reduce school class sizes
The latest argument used in support of local school boards is that we should try "something new." Because it appears that our leaders don't agree on this issue, maybe what we should decide to do instead is lower class sizes.Every expert agrees that small class size, especially in the early grades, makes a positive difference in student success. Our teachers, parents and principals are always pushing for it. In fact, it is one area that legislators, the governor and Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto feel the same about.
We know it works; we know the people want it; and we can do it without a constitutional amendment. What else do we need to decide?
Lorraine Lum
Honolulu
Local school boards work well elsewhere
Opponents of local school boards argue that there is no proof that decentralization of the Board of Education will affect achievement by students. Several states that traditionally score among the highest in the nation on national assessments -- Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa -- all have local decision-making processes. Wisconsin has no BOE at all.These states once experienced waves of non-English-speaking immigrants who came from extreme poverty, and arrived at a time when we had none of the support systems we now have for new immigrants. So the argument that Hawaii's students score low because of poverty or poor English skills is unfair and fallacious.
We need to form a plan, using a decentralized governance model as our goal. We need to make choice an active ingredient in education policy-making by giving parents and their children the opportunity to experience a democratic system of governance that includes the power to make decisions within their schools. Creating local school boards will do that.
Our goal should be to work together to provide public school students the best opportunity to become well-educated, competent decision-makers.
Darla Thomas
Honolulu
Two bills would give power back to people
If Hawaii citizens want equal representation, I urge them to write to their district representatives and Governor Lingle to support two key bills -- House Bill 574 and Senate Bill 443.Passage of HB574 would put to a vote in the general election an amendment to the state Constitution that would give authority to counties to create political subdivisions -- cities, towns and counties. Passage of HB443 would amend the Constitution to allow referendum, recall and initiative.
Our centralized state government has failed miserably. Look at the Department of Education for evidence of this failure. I have lost faith that the current government setup of Hawaii County will accomplish anything. Everything seems to be stuck in red tape, or we don't have enough money, or they try to force projects like Clifto's Kona Coast down our throats.
This is precisely the reason why we should be able to form our own West Hawaii County. Hawaii County as it is now constructed has failed miserably to meet the needs of the entire Big Island.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
No one does Magnum like Tom Selleck
Why on Earth would they think of making a "Magnum, P.I." movie without Tom Selleck in the lead (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 4)? He still looks wonderful, so use him! I can't imagine anyone accepting George Clooney, or any other actor, in the role.
Judith Takaba
Pearl City
Without Tom Selleck the film won't succeed
How can movie makers replace Tom Selleck as Magnum? I really like George Clooney, but Magnum has always been played by Tom Selleck. This isn't James Bond, Batman, Superman where the public expects to see new actors in those roles after a couple of films.If Clooney plays Magnum, I don't think the film will do as well as if Selleck were playing the role he mastered!
Kelly Persich
Honolulu
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[ BRAINSTORM! ]
Can you design a quarter that represents Hawaii??Some states have issued collectible quarters that commemorate their entry into the union. The front of the coin looks the same but the eagle on the back has been replaced by something that represents that state. For example, Georgia's quarter has a peach on it. If you could design Hawaii's quarter, what would it look like?
Send your ideas and solutions by Feb. 17 to:
Or mail them to:
Brainstorm!
c/o Nancy Christenson
Star-Bulletin
500 Ala Moana
7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813Fax:
Brainstorm!
c/o Nancy Christenson
529-4750
