Both the state Department of Education (DOE) and the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) are neglecting an obvious solution to our chronic teacher shortage — mentors for new teachers (“More teachers quitting to move out of state,” Star-Advertiser, June 22).

Across the country, experienced teachers mentoring new teachers has been successful in reducing the 50 percent dropout rate in the first five years. But in Hawaii there is usually only one mentor for several schools, spreading them far too thin to be much help.

We need a mentor teacher in every school.

Unfortunately, neither the DOE nor the HSTA has done enough to pursue this policy.

Larry Meacham

Wahiawa

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Incredible to call Ing a good politician

Incredible! The article regarding Kaniela Ing’s continued financial abuse and lying is amazing (“Ing fined more than $15,000 for falsifying reports,” Star-Advertiser, June 21).

Even more incredible is the quote from Hawaii Campaign Spending Commissioner Mary- ellen Markley, who said that “prosecution could end this man’s career and there are not enough good politicians.”

Good politician? Kaniela Ing is a good (honest, truthful, reliable) politician? Incredible.

Paul Reeser

Waikiki

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Con Con a forum for mischief-making

The commentary on the Constitutional Convention question did not shed much light for us in Hawaii (“Take the time now to understand the ‘Con Con’ question,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 14).

The writer may be a scholar and thinker about the usefulness of constitutional conventions, but most of his column consisted of generalities and philosophizing.

He contended that the constitutional convention is “a vehicle to preserve and enhance Hawaiian democracy.” However, he offered no proof nor support for such a position.

In truth, a constitutional convention is an open invitation to mischief-makers, single-issue folks and anarchists to undermine democracy. Leave the Hawaii Constitution alone.

Amendments are possible if and when needed, but fundamental tinkering or trashing can only lead to bad outcomes.

Willis H.A. Moore

Professor of history and political science, Chaminade University

Downtown Honolulu

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People should stop feeding feral cats

Although there’s wide concern regarding feral cat feces entering our storm drains and infecting the lives of our ocean creatures, there seems to be a lack of control over people who continue to feed our feral cats (“3 monk seals died of disease dispersed through cat feces,” Star-Advertiser, June 19).

Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery and the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery have a couple who feed the cats every afternoon between 4 and 5:30. Park security knows these people and seem to have a friendly relationship with them.

Why they are allowed to continue this practice is beyond me and others who have observed this activity.

Hopefully, they will soon realize the consequences of their actions and cease to continue.

Willie Arakaki

Kaneohe

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Trump need not jail children, parents

President Donald Trump has a deceitful agenda by insisting on prosecuting and jailing children with their parents who illegally entered the country seeking asylum.

The law does not require the prosecution of people illegally entering the country. The Supreme Court in 1985 made it clear that “an agency’s decision not to prosecute or enforce, whether through civil or criminal process, is a decision generally committed to an agency’s absolute discretion.”

By keeping innocent children in jail, he is holding them hostage in order to get Congress to fund his border wall, a major campaign promise.

His executive order should have instead directed that asylum seekers who illegally crossed the Mexican border with their children be sent back over the border to await resolution of their asylum petitions.

A common-sense exercise of prosecutorial discretion would be effective, humane and save us millions of dollars.

Joseph Gedan

Former U.S. Magistrate judge

Makiki

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Immigrants have made America great

The president’s mantra, “Make America Great Again,” ignores the fact that it was and is immigrants who make it great.

Henry Eng

Waialae-Kahala

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We must care about everyone’s children

There is nothing sadder in my eyes than to see an innocent child hurting. And all children are innocent.

It matters not what country they come from. I look at those terrified, sad and helpless faces and in my mind’s eye I see my grandchildren and my little great-grandson. I picture them being separated from the people they love the most maybe to never, ever see them again.

The thought overwhelms me and I think, there but for the grace of God …

Helping these innocents is by no means a sign that we care about them more than the children in our own country. It simply means that we care.

Maybe one day we will all realize that they are not just someone else’s children. They are everyone’s children.

Merle Iseke

Waipahu