Education should follow set standards

The state of Hawaii's education reform should follow these standards:

>> Support successful implementation of the statewide testing programs. Ensure that the tests are used as a tool to advance achievement and improve school performance.
>> Support use of the Certificate of Mastery as a tool to raise the level of the students' accountability for performance. Ensure that communities and employers use the certificate to improve student performance.
>> Support school district efforts to raise academic standards and school performance.
>> Ensure that school districts respond to test results and adjust program to improve future performance.

Measures of success:

>> Timely implementation of the tests in spring.
>> Implementation of the Certificate of Mastery.
>> Students in Class of 2006 will be the first to earn certificates as prerequisites for diplomas.
>> School districts working with parents and communities to adjust programs in response to test results.

Timeline: ongoing.

Arsenio Pelayo
Aiea

Regular folks are out of the political loop

On March 17, my doctor told me that he wasn't able to "vote" on Governor Lingle's education proposal. Also, he couldn't understand the "no" vote on the Ted Hong judgeship when Hong had the support of the Big Island community.

I told him about having "good, responsible and accountable" representatives in government, and when you don't get what you want, vote your reps out. The Democrats want "power" -- they couldn't care less about doing a good job: "An uneducated person is more gullible, so why educate them?" I think we only have four years to begin our kids' education.

Keith Sasaki
Honolulu

Mentally ill inmates should get treatment

In the March 10 Star-Bulletin ("Judge garners praise as she retires from bench") reference was made to Circuit Judge Milks' decision to give Byran Uyesugi, who is mentally ill, a life sentence without parole for killing seven Xerox co-workers. Both the defense and the prosecution commended Milks for her fairness.

Despite the fairness attributed to Milks, little if any benefit was gained from her decision. Putting a mentally ill person, who committed a crime, in prison is costly to society and certainly does not deter other mentally ill people from committing acts when they are in acute conditions.

Rather than incarcerating Uyesugi for life, a more beneficial sentence would have been to assign him to a secure facility with mandatory medication -- voluntary or involuntary. Today, thanks to medical advancement, a regime of carefully monitored medication can restore a mentally ill person to normalcy.

Tragedies such as the one that took place at Xerox would be avoided if more mentally ill people could get the help they needed to control the symptoms of their illnesses. However, our state law allows the mentally ill to receive involuntary medication only when they become "imminently dangerous to themselves or others," which often is too late.

Fredda Sullam
Honolulu

Ditching 'Rainbows' was a lousy decision

A recent University of Hawaii survey showed that more of those sampled preferred "Rainbow Warriors" than those who chose "Warriors." Unfortunately, the original "Rainbows" was not an option.

Why does UH continue to search the world over for a new nickname, logo, brand, symbol? Don't UH officials know that, like the bluebird of happiness, these precious things are usually found in one's own backyard? If they just looked up into the Manoa sky, they'd see rainbows daily exalting UH's and Hawaii's devotion to openness, diversity, inclusion, brotherhood and unity. The rainbow beautifully expresses the essence of Hawaii and its university to the world.

So please return the rainbow to its rightful place at Manoa. Please put an end to the sad chapter in UH's history in which a few coaches and marketing consultants were allowed to dismiss the rainbow and all of its loyal followers unilaterally, arbitrarily and abruptly.

Bring back the 'Bows!

Richard Y. Will
Honolulu

Anthem is about U.S., not the singer's ego

The announcer at the University of Hawaii volleyball game might have introduced the singing of our national anthem as follows: "Now let us sit back and relax to the soothing sounds of our national anthem" -- because that was what happened.

The pretty singer rendered a theatrical expression consisting of voice inflections, degrees of falsetto and off-key variations interspersed with unusual changes in tempo. Her intention was not to inspire patriotism, but rather strictly to entertain for accolades to her singing prowess.

I, like many Americans, like to join in the singing of our national anthem, but found it impossible in this instance when I didn't know when the tempo or inflections would fluctuate. I had to forego the pleasure of joining in and was denied that inspirational patriotism and unity.

Shame on the University of Hawaii for not paying homage and attention to its most revered introduction to its sports programs. Screening of proposed singers of our anthem should be required, as this is an ongoing occurrence.

Particularly now, when our men are being deployed again, the national anthem should be rendered as it was written, with recognition of its most meaningful music and lyrics.

Then, and only then, can the proper introduction be:

"Please stand for our national anthem."

W.W. Robinson
U.S. Navy, retired
Honolulu