Education not just about skills

Joy Pullman of the Heartland Institute takes a right-wing view of public education, at least as far as preschool goes ("Help parents, not preschools," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 9).

She limits her research to studies that rely on test scores. In my preschool class for keiki with disabilities or disadvantages, there is much more going on than just pre-academics.

My students go on to be successful not just in academic achievement. They receive awards and recognition in creativity, citizenship and character. They make the honor roll. They are successful in art, music and drama, not just required courses.

The problem with the research that Pullman uses is that it holds a narrow view of success as measured by skills. Learning is also about dispositions: curiosity, persistence and passion. Learning is also about deep knowledge and children becoming experts.

Until we begin to see the full scope of what public schools do, we will never be able to "measure" them. Such failure continues to do these schools, and the children who attend them, a disservice.

Jonathan Gillentine
Kaneohe

Road crews doing great job

Kudos to the road crews for working the late night hours repaving and repairing Ala Moana, Nimitz Highway and various other main highways to Aiea and Pearl City. Their efforts are sincerely appreciated by those of us who daily drive these routes to and from work.

Joyce Gillespie
Aiea

Maybe state should sell gas

The recent announcement that Tesoro will be shutting down its refinery here unfortunately will create a hardship for those dedicated employees who have been with the company for years.

At least the company had the respect to let the employees know ahead of time instead of just laying everyone off abruptly.

In today’s economy, it seems that no job is guaranteed for life.

Maybe now is the time for the state or local investors to consider the purchase of wholesale gasoline from Venezuela or South America and ship to Hawaii and resell it here. It seems like it could be lucrative, if managed properly, and maybe financially beneficial for the public.

Our legislators also need to research the issue and propose some legislation that may help Hawaii gasoline consumers get a better break, now that we know in advance that we will more dependent on gasoline from out-of-state suppliers.

Bill Romerhaus
Haleiwa

Restaurants are economic asset

Your recent editorial, ("Culinary institute a boon for Hawaii," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Jan. 8), was a laudable commentary. Few people understand the importance of the restaurant industry in Hawaii and the important role it plays in our state’s economy.

Our restaurants are a driving force of our economy and they generate tremendous tax revenues. They provide jobs and build careers for thousands of people. They also provide healthful options for their guests, give back to their communities and work to reduce their impact on the environment.

It is estimated that Hawaii restaurants generated $3.5 billion in sales last year.Every dollar spent in a Hawaii restaurant generates an additional 83 cents in sales for our economy. Nearly 80,000 people are employed in our industry, an astounding 13 percent of our workforce. Every extra $1 million spent in Hawaii restaurants generate an additional 23 jobs.

Roger Morey
Executive director, Hawaii Restaurant Association

Cutting tax rates boosts revenues

One of the most blatant misconceptions perpetrated on the public is that lowering federal tax rates produces less revenue.

Columnist Froma Harrop, for example, refers to the "reckless tax-cutting of the Bush era," implying the federal government lost revenue because of the cuts, thus increasing the deficit ("Leftists upset with Obama should look at bright side," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 5).

But Paul Sperry, in an Oct. 17 article in Investor’s Business Daily, shows that historically tax-rate cuts generate more — not less — revenue. After President George W. Bush lowered individual income-tax rates in 2003, annual tax receipts rose from $794 billion to a peak of $1.2 trillion in 2007. Sperry documents similar revenue jumps with tax-rate cuts by Kennedy in 1964, Reagan in 1982 and Clinton in 1997.

So, if we want more revenue, will hiking the rate on the "wealthy" — the opposite approach — work? History says the likely answer is no.

Geoff Boehm
Waikiki