I would like to thank Catherine Payne for her unflinching commentary on the state of public school education in Hawaii (“New legislation offers hope of improving public schools,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Jan. 21).

Educators devoted to the well-being of our keiki will recognize both the dysfunction she describes and her cautious optimism following the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which frees states to decide for themselves the best way to educate children.

When I read, “Children are precious; they should never be treated like widgets on an assembly line,” I was reminded of an RSA Animate TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson — “Changing Education Paradigms” — which cleverly illustrates the error of thinking of schools as factories and students as products.

I hope we can all agree that rather than widgets, students are our clients, and rich, engaging public education should serve their interests.

That truth — that schools serve students — is what drives the “Schools Our Keiki Deserve” initiative of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Will Hawaii deliver?

David Negaard

Wailuku, Maui

Education is best way to empower people

I agree with Cal Thomas that education is a game-changer in our war against poverty (“Democrats want the poor to depend on government,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 12).

I believe early childhood education, including preschool or pre-kindergarten, should be mandatory in our public schools. Also, parents should be strongly encouraged to be involved in their children’s education.

I believe authority, responsibility, accountability and funding for public school education must be shifted from the state Department of Education superintendent to the local school level to empower those schools to better match their needs with available funding.

I believe our individual choices concerning values, beliefs and morality, and a prioritization of what matters most, may provide a path out of poverty and homelessness toward self-sufficiency, pride and self-worth.

More educational and job training opportunities are needed to empower those who seek them.

George Tsuchida

Mililani

Inouye’s contributions to Hawaii still valued

Mahalo to Paul LePage for recognizing the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye’s wartime sacrifice and congressional service (“’Big Q’ response on Inouye baffling,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 21).

Many in Hawaii appreciate Inouye’s efforts, which have benefited Hawaii.

Thanks also to the Inouye family for deferring the planned Daniel K. Inouye Institute at the University of Hawaii (“Inouye center on hold,” Star-Advertiser, Jan 15).

DKI director Jennifer Sabas did not want the $50 million institute to compete for state funds when UH has a $503 million infrastructure repair backlog.

Warren Iwasa provided a thoughtful, and possibly more meaningful, solution (“Competent biography of Inouye would be fine tribute,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Jan 21). Iwasa said that “the university should start work on a completely researched, meticulously documented, fair and well-written biography of the late senator.” He further suggested a committee to select an author.

If his articulate and insightful commentary was any indication, Iwasa himself could write an objective story of Hawaii’s most distinguished native son.

Warren Hamamoto

Makiki

Support bill to ease long-term care burden

Before too long, we in Hawaii could be in real trouble if we don’t get the facts straight about the cost of aging, specifically the costs of long-term care.

How are we also going to make sure our aging parents, our kupuna, receive the care they need? Hawaii needs to take action right now.

We can begin to build a support system for families by offering social insurance. A bill being introduced by state Sen. Rosalyn Baker for the 2016 legislative session calls for a long-term care benefit of $70 per day for 365 days, ensuring that everyone would have access to basic resources to provide care at home.

Supporting this bill means we could care for our kupuna and reduce the cost burden of long-term care on both family caregivers and the state. No one should be denied the care they need.

Davin Aoyagi

Hawaii Kai

Oil has more uses than for just energy

I constantly read about the “evils of Big Oil” and how everything would be much better if we would simply do away with using petroleum. Hence, we are always being barraged with the merits of “clean” energy.

I wonder how we are going to produce the well over 50 percent of the things being produced from a barrel of oil (think plastics, tires, solvents, paints, bandages, etc.) from solar panels and wind turbines.

Francis Ritchey

Kailua

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Let it ride, majority says of rail” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 18:

>> I don’t think anyone realizes the total cost of this boondoggle beyond the construction costs. It’s going to take an ever-increasing amount to operate and maintain the system, which you can bet will mean more taxes.

>> I’m neutral when it comes to rail construction. I see the positive side of this project and, like everything else, it has a negative side. The cost of it is, obviously, but I don’t understand why everyone is surprised when the cost started to skyrocket. I mean, when was the last time we had a public project that made the cost and completion date? Never! We’re talking about Hawaii politics here.

>> Ending it at Middle Street would salvage what is already built and save billions of dollars.

>> The damage has been done. A lot of livelihoods have been affected. Probably more to come. That’s why more people say, “Let it ride.” No sense stopping now.

———

“Tourism authority still in debt $317M for convention center” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 18:

>> Talk about ‘White Elephant’!

>> Build it and they will come, they said, but what we have is a mostly empty convention center that is hardly used. Again, the taxpayers are left to foot the bill.

>> A portion of the hotel tax revenue should have been set aside at the outset to pay off this debt, and no subsequent modifications to the terms should have been implemented without public hearings. As it stands, the public is paying endlessly for an unpopular project, benefiting the lenders and no one else.

>> Any half-rational person knew before the convention center was even built that it was going to be a financial disaster. The same is true for our latest shameful decision — to build the rail — only this one will result in bankrupting the state even as we all are taxed to death.

———

“Supporting rail is a position that can help or derail you” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 19:

>> I will not vote for anyone supporting the Honolulu rail as it has been and is a complete failure. It’s being built on a foundation of lies and deception.

>> Well, I won’t vote for anyone who is opposed to rail. I just got back from another trip and it was so nice not having to rent a car. We were able to use mass transit to go from the airport to the cruise ship. Someday Honolulu will offer the same for people staying in Waikiki.

>> And tourists don’t need to rent a car because they can ride the rail from Ala Moana to Waipahu? Get real.

———

“High court refuses to sanction convention leaders” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 20:

>> Well you win some and you lose some. Now let the talking begin.

>> Na‘i Aupuni proceeding with the ‘aha, with a future decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hanging over its head, is not pono. Any decision by the group will have no standing except with the group attending the meeting.

———

“26 former pupils say they were molested” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 20:

>> What good does it do to bring a dead man to trial at this point other than to milk the system for money via ambulance-chaser lawyers? Justice, you say? Browne committed suicide. Will abuse stop because of lawsuits and publicity?

>> The plaintiffs are suing Kamehameha Schools, not Dr. Robert M. Browne. If Kamehameha knew, or should have known there was abuse, then yes, there is a reason to sue.

———

“Coast Guard suspends search for 12 missing Marines” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 20:

>> How sad that 12 young Marines lost their lives. Life is precious. Make sure your family and friends know you love them.

———

“PONY League thief granted reprieve” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 21:

>> Why? She didn’t just take money, she took the dreams of a group of little kids.

>> The reason is because it’s a white-collar crime. Our prison system is overpopulated so white-collar criminals are getting off.