Views of teachers were refreshing

As a retired teacher, counselor and student services coordinator for the state Department of Education,"What’s a Hawaii teacher to do?" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 2) had a truthful ring to it.

First, principals have the full spectrum of leadership abilities. They best demonstrate outstanding skills on a daily basis, and most are more than competent. Yes, however, there are some principals who practice narcissism and favoritism.

Second, preparing for the test becomes rampant when the schools’ accreditation, annual yearly progress and now teacher evaluations are determined by test scores.

Finally, regarding teacher quality, I have observed mostly dedicated and caring professionals. However, there are some teachers (and administrators) who need help. And so, mentoring, peer coaching, and objective review from outside professionals seem the best solution for this problem.

It was refreshing to read people from the field write about school problems. Perhaps this will help shine some light away from only test scores and onto the reality of being in a classroom.

Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu

Teacher evaluations should be expected

I was disappointed to read that teacher evaluation bills were not carried forward by members of our Legislature due to pressure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Hawaii committed to teacher evaluations the moment we accepted federal Race to the Top funds.

I think most teachers would agree that the current evaluation system is not working. Our teachers and students deserve the best tools to succeed, including productive evaluations. And, really, who doesn’t expect to be evaluated at work?

I appreciate HSTA wanting to protect its members from being scapegoated for Hawaii’s low test scores, but waiving teachers responsibility is irresponsible.

Jo-Ann Iinuma
Waipahu

Teachers want more specifics in contract

The Hawaii State Teachers Association leadership has the same callous disregard for teachers and their legitimate concerns about the previously proposed contract as the Abercrombie administration.

What part of the "no" vote on this proposal didn’t they understand?

There can be no contract without the specifics of a revised teacher evaluation system spelled out.Period. To put the same rejected contract before us for another ratification vote is the height of disrespect and reinforces the already prevailing sentiment (after the January ratification debacle) that those who run the HSTA should have resigned.We are not sheep, contrary to what our leadership and our autocratic governor might think.

Michael Clark
Honolulu

Scrapping Jones Act won’t help Hawaii

Scrapping the Jones Act is not the remedy to fix Hawaii’s economy or to solve our energy woes ("Natural gas is cheap, but Jones Act rules it out for Hawaii," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 29).

Let us remember it as the major factor in the defeat of the Axis Powers.Through good economies and bad, this legislation has preserved the skills and shipbuilding capacity that allows our military to prevail.

Also, let us not forget the supreme sacrifice made by almost 5,000 men on 397 sunken ships during 1942 off Torpedo Alley near Cape Hatteras.Merchant mariner casualty rates during World War II were exceeded only by the U.S. Marine Corps. Thanks to the Jones Act we preserved our industrial might, resulting in sustaining the free world.

With foresight, natural gas could ease our energy burden. Estimates for LNG Plant construction is $1.5 bil-lion, receiving plant $1 billion, LNG vessel $200 million each, ANS Pipe-line $26 billion.

Scapegoating the Jones Act in this case is just a red herring.

Randy Swindell
President, Hawaii Ports Maritime Council

Rail not so affordable for those not wealthy

It is easy to say we could afford rail if you make $5 million a year ("Yes, Honolulu, we can afford to build the rail transit project," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 30), but not if you are on a fixed income like me.

I am struggling to pay my electric bill already, and I am sure property taxes will increase to maintain this rail.

It will become affordable only if these business people will pledge to finance it, especially since they have personal and business stakes in it.

Mario Orbito
Pauoa Valley

Variance relied on semantic switcheroo

How do the state of Hawaii and OliverMcMillan get away with turning the simple phrase "mauka-makai" on its head?

The drawings of the proposed 400-foot "Symphony Honolulu" mixed-use condominium, at Wednesday’s public hearing and in the Star-Advertiser, show makai-mauka views.

Before attending the public hearing, I drove up to Puowaina (Punchbowl Crater) to verify our views. Looking from Diamond Head to Kewalo Harbor, there are only five views of the south shore surf break. Seeing our surf break is both a simple pleasure and an emergency consideration. The HCDA, in giving the developer OliverMcMillan a variance to its newly crafted mauka-makai regulation, has just removed one of our five remaining views of the south shore surf break.

Simple phrase, simple pleasure, simple semantic switcheroo.

Laura M. Fink
Makiki

Bags don’t cause litter, negligent people do

I am a senior with limited fixed income. I respect the environment and I believe in recycling. I take my recyclables to the school bin.

My primary use of the plastic bag is trash (indoor/outdoor).

My other uses include sharing vegetables and fruits with neighbors and friends, donating items to charities, carrying potlucks, storing items and many other uses.

We need responsible citizens, not more laws.

Jane Yamashiro
Aiea

HMSA doesn’t treat all doctors equally

Why does Hawaii continue to face a severe doctor shortage?

As usual, the answer comes down to a simple matter of money. Because of the virtual monopoly of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, physician reimbursements in Hawaii severely lag other areas.

The situation could be remedied without costing the state a penny. Unfortunately, lawmakers firmly in the pocket of the well-funded HMSA lobby have repeatedly rejected it.

Simply by mandating that insurers like HMSA send payments for services directly to physicians — even if they are not HMSA-participating — the problem would be solved. Currently, physicians participating with HMSA rely on these checks being sent directly to them. In contrast, HMSA does all it can to penalize any doctor with the effrontery to rebuff them by instead sending these payments to the patient, who often cashes the check instead of forwarding it on to the doctor.

Kathy VanArman
Kailua

ON THE MOVE

"Principals expect reviews to add to their workload,"Star-Advertiser, April 30:

» Geez, principals get $120K plus per year, and when they retire they make over $100K. Can’t they figure out a simple but effective performance evaluation system that would satisfy the state Department of Education requirement? If a principal can’t do it, find someone who can. Simple as that. We don’t need crybabies leading our schools. We need thinkers and doers, whether it is leading or management.

» Principals are highly paid and can easily take on the job they should have been doing for years. No one is impressed with them.

» Principals should not be the sole ones to evaluate teachers. Students, parents and community should have a major say.

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"Library backers’ clash is one for the books,"Star-Advertiser, April 30:

» Like the farmers in Haleiwa, the state needs to stop these vicious criminals from doing illegal things on state land. We cannot allow these types of nefarious activities to continue. Ban all old ladies from state property.

» Well said. The next thing you know, someone on state property will be trying to help people.

» There are no parallels here. Obviously the library ladies are working to improve the library in their neighborhood while the operators of the Haleiwa Farmers market want free rent from the state on a piece of land designated as roadway. The state is not obliged to provide any private business a place to operate and conduct their business.

» These ladies are awesome. Wish every library had a bunch of them.

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"Plan triples summer fun program fee,"Star-Advertiser, May 3:

» Many of the children who enroll in such programs come from the less advantaged families. Increasing the fee by three times to $75 will only cause more problems. What will happen to those who cannot afford it? Will there children now resort to other things and possibly get in trouble? Remember, idle minds will wander.

» The enrollment went from 30,000 in 1990 to 9,000 last year. There was no epidemic of youth violence. The program should pay for itself.

» Crank it up. Make it a nice round $100.

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"State allows view exemption for tower,"Star-Advertiser, May 3:

» This is just plain wrong. If rules are made to keep Hawaii beautiful, then follow the rules and keep Hawaii beautiful. There is nothing beautiful about a high rise blocking the view of the ocean.

» True but it is already too late. That area is hideous, overcrowded and very un-Hawaiian, and no one can change it now.

» Whose view is being blocked? You can’t see the ocean shore from a high-rise on Prospect Street on Punchbowl anyway.

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"Inouye miffed by Cayetano’s description of him as ‘out of touch’,"Star-Advertiser, May 4:

» Former Gov. Ben Cayetano is correct: U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is, and has been, out of touch for a long, long time. He does the office a disservice by having overstayed his visit by about 35 years. The days of professional politicians have to end.

» It seems that Sen. Inouye is a wee bit sensitive in the late autumn of his political career any time someone disagrees with him. Perhaps if he were to spend more time back home and less time in Las Vegas on "business," he might get a better sense of the changing political climate and deep concerns regarding the fiscal ill-health of the city/county, state and the nation.

» Age 65 is widely accepted for retirement. Mr. Inouye is 87. How would each of us function in our jobs at 87? With age comes respect, but there comes a time when we all have to pass the baton to those with more vigor. Representing the people should not become a career.

» And how old is Cayetano? I am a senior citizen and I am pro-rail. I have wanted to see rail since it was first proposed — and when it would cost way less. Cayetano is out of touch and should stay retired.

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"Governor questions HSTA plan for revote,"Star-Advertiser, May 4:

» Hawaii State Teachers Association President Wil Okabe must go in the next union vote. Throwing the same bad contract proposal at us is an insult to the teachers. It does not address any of the needs for longer school days to meet Act 167, which all take effect during the next six years. The state has already said it won’t recognize the vote, so why go through the exercise at all?

» Wil Okabe is attempting to save face by holding yet another vote. A waste of union dues since the teachers already rejected the proposal. Put it to bed, Wil!

» This labor dispute has become a Franz Kafka story.

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"Average cost for gasoline dips but state retains highest prices," Star-Advertiser, May 4:

» Hawaii residents should be proactive in bringing down gas prices. Start having a couple of "no driving" weekends and watch the oil tanks overflow and the tankers sit offshore unable to unload their cargoes. An oil glut is needed. When you have too much product, the price comes down: it’s the law of economics!

» Politicians do not want lower gas prices.The amount of tax that is charged is pure profit to the government.