Save existing pre-K program

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is pushing funding for preschool students. But his message is misleading. We all want to provide early learning opportunities for our keiki, so why isn’t kindergarten mandatory?

Why aren’t we keeping junior kindergarten for the children who will no longer qualify for kindergarten?

The proposed law, Senate Bill 1084,does not actually establish a state-funded early learning program. It puts a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot that, if passed, would allow for state funding of private preschools, many of which are religiously affiliated. Are we now using tax money for religious education?

Are taxpayers willing to pay for children to receive religious education for any religious group that creates a preschool? In our junior kindergarten programs, Department of Education- licensed teachers provided quality education programs. Many preschool teachers at private schools are not state-licensed.

This bill puts Hawaii on the dangerous path to school vouchers and privatized public schools. We have been closing small DOE schools, but perhaps we could use the space for preschool-age children. Let’s find better ways to support our young children.

Inga Park Okuna
Manoa Valley

Don’t remove Waikiki walls

While I applaud City Councilman Stanley Chang’s efforts to address the issue of homelessness, I take strong exception to the proposal to deconstruct Waikiki pavilions and rock walls along Kalakaua.

These facilities are assets used and enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Taking away facilities does not solve the problem.

Nancy Miller
Waikiki

Free concerts for high schools

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has a history of going out of business. It could provide itself with job security and at the same time do much to promote classical music among the younger generation by providing free concerts for the students at Hawaii’s high schools.

These days, about the only music these kids are hearing are the screechy voices from "American Idol," rap music and hip-hop. Music selections for these high school concerts should be undisputed greats that everyone enjoys, such as Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf," Rachmaninoff’s "Second Piano Concerto," Claude Debussy’s "Clair De Lune" or Alexander Borodin’s "On the Steppes of Central Asia."

Listenable classical selections would leave a lasting impression on our young people and motivate them to attend paid performances in the future.

I’d bet Hawaiian Airlines would assist in flying the orchestra for free neighbor island school performances. Hawaii Symphony high school concerts would be a memorable experience for the students and a great way for the orchestra to perpetuate its existence.

Ray Graham
Waikiki

Show evidence of GMO dangers

Yes, the world is flat, didn’t you know, Earth is the center of the universe and if we travel out far at sea we will fall off a cliff. Let’s add, "GMO products are bad for you" to this list.

Those individuals quoting facts regarding the horrible effects of GMO (genetically modified organism) products are spouting hearsay, innuendo and falsehoods, as there has never been one scientific double-blind study that has proven GMO products to be harmful.

As a veterinarian and a family physician with 45 years experience, and treating hundreds of thousands of patients, I have never seen a medical or veterinary research article showing harm from these products and have never examined a patient, either animal or human, with any proven abnormal effects from GMO foods. If you find a reputable study, kindly quote it for all to see.

Let’s stick to scientific analysis and evidence and not fear-mongering.

Gary R. Johnson
Kaneohe

Better to keep postal workers

On Feb. 13, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe submitted a report to a Senate committee stating the goal of the U.S. Postal Service is to reduce the career workforce by 95,000 "through attrition." This relates to the plan to eliminate Saturday mail and save $2 billion.If a five-day work week requires 80,000 fewer employees, each eliminated job would represent a savings of $25,000.

However, a postal worker who started in 1984 (the first year of the current retirement system) and retires now would stop providing the federal government with $10,000 a year in payroll taxes and $8,000 in income taxes.He would instead start receiving $20,000 a year in Social Security and a federal pension of over $16,000.This means every $1 saved by the USPS would cost the federal government $2.16.

The numbers are worse for a person looking to start over in a new field or an underemployed worker hoping to be hired on.

John LeRoux
Waikiki

Students pay for UH lavishness

Recently the Star-Advertiser reported a planned increase in University of Hawaii tuition from $4,000 in 2006 to $11,000 in 2016 ("Lawmakers grill UH about tuition increases," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 10).

Instead of further burdening our students, who are already working beyond their ability to keep up with their class work, divert the money lavished on coaches, administrators and consultants.

UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple also wants to "forgive" UH athletics an $11 million debt, lent from academic departments. That money went mostly to million-dollar coaches and their bonuses.

Hiring firms for both sports directors and administrators are "Emperor’s New Clothes" clubs, whose consultants and pool of applicants have all agreed to support the myth that "no one would work for less."

Instead, hire more local talent and outside talent that really care about helping Hawaii students and not about lining their own pockets. Are our priorities games or learning, top dogs or students?

Kathy J. Phillips
Honolulu

Drug addicts start with pot

The people of Hawaii need education regarding the perils of legal marijuana. I am an addiction counselor and worked in a mainland alcohol and drug treatment center for 25 years, and 94 percent of patients I worked with started their chemical use with marijuana. After using the drug for some time and the drug wasn’t working, patients would start using other drugs to get high. Along with increased chemical abuse, other crimes were committed, which included physical violence, murder and robbery.

Do the people of Hawaii want an increase in crime and alcohol/drug addiction? If you don’t want this inevitable outcome of legalizing marijuana use, then get involved and learn about addiction. Protest to your legislators who are supposed to be looking out for you rather than worrying about the next election. Don’t rely on politicians to do the right thing. Get involved — help save Hawaii adults and children from addiction.

Jo Breeden
Kahuku