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"It is often not the mathematics that our students remember, but the cake that we baked them for their birthday, the excursion we took them on ... the faith we had in their individual progress, the Kleenex and cold water we provided."

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Reality TV could give our schools a facelift

Today's new television reality shows need to stop the drama and use their money to make a bigger, better impact in our world. Even though ABC's "Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition" tries to make a difference by affecting the lives of one family at a time, a better spin-off to the show's predecessor could have been "Extreme Makeovers: School Edition." Schools in need of repair and maintenance could be improved, providing a lasting impact for a few hundred children at a time while positively affecting their daily learning environment.

Mayor's natatorium plan full of holes

I understand Mayor Harris, who has less than three months left on his term, has arbitrarily elected to proceed with restoration of the Natatorium Memorial immediately by inserting more than 80 cement pilings into the pool area. Shouldn't there be a total plan before permanent structures are imbedded into the beach? Shouldn't the plan be acceptable and affordable to the electorate? So far, the initial cost will be $6.1 million for the pilings and patch-up, with a low estimate of $50 million to restore the bleachers and restrooms for use. And since the ocean will always have its way, the costs of repairs and maintenance will be eternal.

Would we, the electorate, rather use our tax money in more practical, needed ways -- to update our schools, properly repair the sewer system, make the roads safer and lower taxes? Wouldn't a more modest, more appropriate, more beautiful memorial plan be more justifiable?

If you feel $50 million is more than we can afford, call or write the mayor -- and your City Council representative.

Lei Ahu Isa has the experience for BOE

Still confused about who to vote for to the Board of Education? Well, how about considering someone who has 25 years of experience in education as an administrator, teacher and professor, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Hawaii? How about someone who understands the legislative process, as a former state representative? Or someone who, as a business owner, knows something about budgets and finances? Someone who was recently inducted into the Pi Lambda Theta, an international honor society and professional association that recognizes outstanding educators? And someone who went through the public school system and knows what it takes to improve education for our keikis?

That someone is Lei Ahu Isa. For a change, let's get the right people on the BOE.

OCCC inmates hurt by staff shortage

I am an inmate at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. I feel it's necessary to bring to the attention of the general public the underfunding of this facility. Due to the insufficient budget allotted to OCCC by the state, our island's jail system is not operating the way it was designed to run; therefore, not only do the inmates suffer, but the staff as well. Fewer guards are given work hours because there's not enough money to pay them, which in turn causes the inmates to be locked in their cells for much of the day due to the staff shortage. This causes more tension among inmates, which could lead to violence.

I feel that these excessive lockdowns border on cruel and unusual punishment. Another result of OCCC's insufficient budget is felt by the amount of food being served to inmates having noticeably shrunk. A staff shortage in the mailroom has led to inmates not receiving incoming mail consistently, which includes correspondence with defense attorneys. I suspect that violations of my civil rights are taking place. But who am I to say, I'm just an inmate.

Car pooling is patriotic and saves money

How to be patriotic, save time and money, and solve the rush-hour traffic jams at the same time. Sound impossible? It's easier than you think.

Just imagine if everyone in Hawaii who commutes to work, instead of driving alone, were to double up with one other driver. They would not only save half of the cost of gas and parking, there would be half as many cars on the road during rush hour so they would save half the time that it takes to get to and from work. It boggles the mind to think what would happen if three drivers formed a car pool.

Just imagine if everyone in the United States did the same thing. It would drastically reduce the amount of oil that we import from foreign countries. How patriotic is that? All drivers who form car pools should have special American flags to fly from their antennas, showing that they are not only helping themselves, but they are helping the U.S.A.!