Brainstorm! Challenge

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Give schools power to govern themselves

During the current legislative session, the parents of Hawaii's students will hear and read various views and positions on public school governance.

The Hawaii State Parent, Teacher, Student Association, the state's largest and oldest child advocacy organization, reaffirms our support of full funding, implementation and evaluation of effective School Community-Based Management boards in all public schools.

We support school governance that empowers all segments of the school and community in shared decision-making that clearly defines the lines of accountability and responsibility, places resources more directly towards students, teachers and the school community it serves.

We also take the position that any proposal to change Hawaii's public school governance structure that would require a state constitutional amendment and by statute need to be placed on the ballot should be presented to the public.

The Hawaii State PTSA encourages its members, all parents, guardians and citizens of Hawaii to study the issues relating to education. Parent involvement is one of the cornerstones to student achievement. We urge that they carefully weigh the effects any proposed legislation would have on our keiki, so that if and when there's an opportunity to vote, they will make an informed decision.

Don Hayman
President
Hawaii State PTSA

Local school boards would lack real clout

Darla Thomas (Letters, Feb. 9) assumes that opposition to the governor's plan for education reform centers on doubts about the effectiveness of local school boards in other states. That is not so. The doubts are about the shell game the governor is playing with the powers that local school boards would have under her plan.

Thomas cited Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin as examples of states with local school boards and strong records of student achievement. That is true, but the systems of local school districts in those states are very different from what the governor is proposing.

All four states have independent school districts. That means those districts have legal authority to levy taxes to raise revenue for the operation of their schools. While House Bill 2331 calls the school districts that would be created in Hawaii independent, they would in fact be dependent on the state. They would have no power to raise revenue. That power would remain with the Legislature and the governor.

Thomas also notes that Wisconsin has no state board of education. That is true, but it has a powerful, elected state superintendent of public instruction, heading a state department of education that regulates the operations of its local school districts. Wisconsin's superintendent is independent of the governor.

If the governor had proposed creating school districts in Hawaii like those in the four states Thomas cites, I would be for it. But the districts proposed in HB 2331 would be powerless, weaker even than the current Board of Education.

Thomas G. Gans
Honolulu

Charter schools could help others succeed

Get rid of charter schools.

That is what the Department of Education would like to do. Why? Because many of the new charter schools are successful.

On the Big Island, nine schools have been targeted for intervention by DOE teams because of poor student performance and failure to reach academic achievement benchmarks. Not one public charter school is on that list.

Is the DOE asking the public charter schools for information on their successes? No. The DOE wants people to think the charter schools are failing. If they asked the charter schools for help, it would legitimize the charter schools' successes.

Kahakai Elementary School in Kailua-Kona is one of the nine schools targeted for intervention. On Kahakai campus is Innovations Public Charter School, which draws from the same pool of students as does Kahakai Elementary School. Kahakai is targeted for intervention. Innovations is not.

Yet, this successful extension of our public school system has been met with dissension by the DOE since its inception four years ago. Funds have been withheld by the DOE. Administration forbids use of the library and cafeteria, and limits bus service for the charter school. The charter school at Kahakai continues to be successful.

Wouldn't you think administration would be asking, "Why are your students succeeding? What are you doing different from us?"

Charter schools can be the model for what localized control of funds, resources and decision-making can do. If you want better public schools, listen to the successful schools already in operation and demand that the DOE listen, too.

Sandra Doherty
Retired teacher
Kahakai Elementary School

Fear not, the stadium is safe from handbags

After 25 years of hosting the Pro Bowl you'd think management could have figured out how to make this event a pleasurable experience for all. Because creating contra-flow lanes and having staff direct cars to the ample parking (i.e., Ford Island) is just too complicated, provide Port-a-Potties along the routes to Aloha Stadium for the three- to four-hour drive in. Post clear signage stating "Purses with two handles valued under $500 will be considered dangerous backpacks and will not be allowed into the stadium. Scissors to cut off the second strap are available for use."

I mistakenly brought a $30 clear-plastic purse, which converts into a backpack, to the event. I should have brought my faux Louis Vuitton backpack purse, which was allowed. The kind staff gave me a larger, green opaque plastic bag for my belongings, stating I could leave my dreaded and fearsome clear bag at security, three gates down.

Tisha Bryant
Honolulu

Gabbard bashes gays as campaign strategy

Can you imagine how happy I am to hear that another politician -- Mike Gabbard -- has chosen to gay-bash me in order to gain office -- and at a Lincoln dinner, to boot. Seems like Lincoln was a symbol for freedom of a persecuted minority at one time.

Surely there are more important issues in this country than trying to persecute our gay citizens. I expect so much more tolerance of minorities in Hawaii politics. Why must I be disappointed again and again concerning this issue?

When I graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1968 with a degree in political science, I had ideals like social justice and government protection of minorities from the tyranny of majorities. I also expected most of our political efforts to be focused on dealing with problems such as military protections and jobs for everyone and increasing educational opportunities and health programs.

Where did we go wrong? And the most important question: How do we get back on track?

Mary Gay Hutcherson
Richmond, Va.

Case afraid to talk about gay marriage

Mike Gabbard has been an exceptionally productive city councilman who addresses a wide range of issues. Congressman Ed Case's description of Gabbard as a "single-issue candidate" is a transparent attempt to discourage Gabbard from discussing Case's record on that issue: same-sex marriage ("Gabbard considers run against Rep. Case," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 7).

Seventy percent of Hawaii's people oppose same-sex marriage and Case does not want them to find out how extremely pro-homosexual marriage he is.

Chuck Dugan
Kailua

Sssh, don't tell them you're making money!

If we want all these potholes fixed, we should praise the City Council and Legislature for helping out small businesses (auto alignment shops.) Alarmed at the prospect of any small-business sector thriving, they'd spring into action and fix the potholes ASAP.

Or, considering the liberals running those august bodies, they'd probably raise taxes and fees on auto alignment shops, and cut road funding even further. Never mind.

Jim Henshaw
Kaneohe

Let terminally ill pick manner of death

Please be aware that the Death with Dignity bill gives the dying the power to choose not death over life, but one form of death over another. It applies only to the terminally ill. Hawaii's Death with Dignity bill has extensive safeguards, similar to the Oregon bill in effect since 1997, which has no documented case of abuse. The majority of Hawaii residents support this bill, according to a 2004 public opinion survey conducted by QMark.

Please let your lawmakers know that you want the Death with Dignity Act to be passed. Thank you for your support.

Sally Duffield
Kailua

Doctor-assisted death was debated enough

Robert Nathanson was mistaken in his Feb. 8 letter: There has been no absence of legislative hearings for physician-assisted suicide. In 2002, the House and Senate both held extensive hearings, and the Senate took a highly publicized floor vote that failed. There are no hearings set in the current session because the 2002 hearings were so exhaustive and divisive.

Nathanson, a doctor, implies that his informal survey indicates physician support for physician-assisted suicide. As a scientist, Nathanson surely knows his survey is not scientific. The fact is the Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Nurses Association consistently oppose it. The majority of calls, e-mails and faxes to legislators in 2002 were against physician-assisted suicide.

Since then, public support appears to have fallen and our new governor is not friendly to physician-assisted suicide.

The wisdom against physician-assisted suicide is embodied in the 3,000-year-old physician's oath to do no harm to patients. It is an overly simplistic "solution" to complex problems and would have numerous unfortunate, unintended consequences.

Marcia Berkowitz
President
Maui Chapter
Hawaii Right To Life

Lingle had to lie about her travel plans

I read your editorial expressing outrage at Governor Lingle's dishonesty regarding her trip to Iraq. The governor had an obligation to everyone on her trip, including the traveling media, to maintain secrecy to protect their lives. Her lying to the media was necessary and prudent.

Joel Pechauer
Dallas, Texas
Former Hawaii resident

What about senator's own religious bias?

A carnation lei to Governor Lingle for visiting the troops in Iraq. That trip probably did a lot for morale of the troops.

A big onion to Sen. Kalani English on his questioning whether a Jewish woman should visit Iraq. Doesn't he realize that U.S. troops of the Jewish faith are serving in Iraq and elsewhere in the region? His petty remarks about the governor's religion brings up the question of his personal agenda in making that comment.

English should get his act together and stop looking in the shadows. It's a good thing he wasn't on the trip to represent Hawaii and the people of this country.

Lee Laquihon
Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
Formerly of Aiea

Excessive speeding is a form of assault

I am tired of hearing from and reading letters from people whining that impounding speeders' vehicles is overkill. If someone were to sit by the highway with a gun and shoot at other drivers, he could be arrested and charged with "assault with a deadly weapon." In light of that, anyone who speeds excessively on a road or highway voluntarily transforms a vehicle into a deadly weapon.

They are committing assault with a deadly weapon. Impound their vehicles and bury them under the jails.

P. Minczer
Honolulu

Prices will stay high if Big Oil has its way

Your Feb. 12 article "Gas cap opponents urge House to repeal law" reported that supporters of the gas price cap say Hawaii consumers have been gouged at the pump long enough, noting research that indicates large oil companies make as much as 23 percent of their profits in Hawaii, even though the islands are only 3 percent of their market.

According to AAA, the average price of regular, self-serve unleaded gas in Honolulu yesterday was $1.991 per gallon. The average was $2.109 in Hilo and $2.359 in Wailuku. How long are we expected to stand still for this?

Big Oil has told us, outright, that the reason it charges such high prices is because it can, and that there are no laws that can stop it. Let's see if our elected representatives are working for the people of Hawaii or are still working for Big Oil special interests.

Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Hawaii

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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: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750