Teachers have a lot to endure

I am a public school teacher, and I must say that I do not like to be absent from school, as the planning/preparation for lessons for the substitute teacher can take the same amount of time as a regular work day ("Isle teachers miss 17 days on average," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13).

Many of the "missed" days must also come from the countless workshops we are required to attend; or, perhaps, the professional development (PD) that we must take on school days, as the governor took away our PD days.

Please also remember that we work in small spaces packed with 20-plus bodies and are constantly exposed to cold and flu "bugs."

Hawaii’s public school teachers do care deeply for the keiki of Hawaii. That is why, even with the negativity we face from the media, and the disrespect of the governor in the lack of a fair contract offer, we still work after hours (unpaid) and use our personal funds to supplement classroom resources.

Dana Shishido
Mililani

Armed guards not the answer

The National Rifle Association wants guards with guns in schools, at theaters, shopping malls and work places as a deterrent to keep "crazy" people at bay, reasoning that these "crazies" will think twice if they know someone will be there with a gun.

I’m sorry, but crazy people don’t think rationally. They do what they want, regardless of consequences. That’s why they are crazy.

There was an armed guard at Columbine High school. An Army major shot dozens of people on an Army base. When President Ronald Reagan was shot, there were several people around him who had guns, yet one person got a shot at him anyway.

More guns in more places will not prevent more shootings.It might take a generation, but we need to get rid of guns altogether.

Wim Blees
Mililani

Hanabusa came to our defense

National cable talk host Bill O’Reilly recently made some one-sided comments regarding Hawaii. I was disappointed that none of our recently elected Washington delegates, nor our governor, nor our mayor nor any state or federal lawmaker offered any rebuttal to O’Reilly’s remarks.

Only U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa came to our defense. She showed real courage and leadership in representing and defending the people of Hawaii.

Tom Hagen
Kaneohe

Fighting slavery a recent advance

Regarding "Schools being misused to undermine our society" (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 12), I agree with columnist Thomas Sowell that it is incorrect to attribute the sins of civilization just to Western civilization in general or the United States in particular.

Since the invention of agriculture 10,000 or so years ago and the subsequent rise of what we moderns call civilization, I think nearly all human societies have been plagued by actual and de facto forms of slavery and serfdom, among other ills.

If one views history from this big-picture perspective, humans have only very recently — and only partially — begun to overcome this. I suspect Sowell would attribute most of this progress to the rise of capitalism and free markets, but I think he would be mistaken if he ignored the role played by various progressive movements throughout history, characterized by individuals willing to risk everything — including their lives — to eliminate various forms of slavery and serfdom.

Tom Brandt
Honolulu

UH volleyball is impressive

Congratulations to the University of Hawaii volleyball team and coaching staff on their stunning upset of nationally ranked UCLA ("Warriors stun UCLA in 5," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13).

A young team, it has no lack of heart and determination, and both were on full display as they battled three of the top teams in the nation down to the wire.

Coach Charlie Wade has created a "balanced man" culture emphasizing academics, leadership, personal responsibility, athletics, hard work and perseverance.

Saturday night’s victory was won by an unselfish group of young men that included three former Hawaii high school players in the starting lineup, joined by very talented mainland and foreign teammates. Together they pulled off an improbable, come-from- behind victory against arguably one the most storied programs in NCAA men’s volleyball. Undoubtedly thousands of fans across the state watched the TV broadcast, but there is nothing like being at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Go Warriors! Hana hou!

Don Martin
Hawaii Kai

Pali Highway needs repairs

Thousands of cars use the Pali Highway every day. The highway is in dire need of resurfacing. We are not talking about a few patches, as there are probably hundreds of patched potholes. Drivers try to go around the patches. I’m surprised there are not any serious accidents. What will it take to get some government agency to do something?

Nan Yuen
Chinatown

Hawaiian Air should cut fares

I read with interest the results of "The Big Q" survey for Jan. 9 regarding whether the cost of inter-island flights has discouraged Hawaii’s people from inter-island flying.

A resounding 88 percent said they are discouraged from flying.

Hawaiian Airlines is Hawaii’s major interisland carrier.There is minimal competition as far as airfares are concerned, but consider this: If the airlines simply lowered their airfares they could have an 88 percent increase in potential travelers.Lowering off-peak prices, as Hawaiian does now, would bring a few customers on board.

Wouldn’t a carrier want to increase total sales by lowering its price across-the-board to increase volume and profit?

John Shockley
Kapolei

Opinion page was depressing

I found your selection of opinion columns on Jan. 12 a good deal more cold and negative than usual.

Jacob Sullum’s "Obama has amazingly stingy clemency record" ends with the line, "He has made Richard Nixon look like a softie."

Followed by Froma Harrop’s column, "Clinton has only herself to blame for getting sick." At first I thought it was a joke but alas, no. Harrop evidently thinks she herself could outdo the current secretary of state while avoiding blood clots of the brain.

And we end with Thomas Sowell’s "Schools being misused to undermine our society," a tirade mourning the loss of the patriotic brainwashing once common in the classroom back in the day.

Fittingly, "Prickly City" closed the page with another inane cartoon featuring two characters poised above an abyss. With an editorial page like that, one can only hope that the whole lot of them fell in, never to be heard from again.

Linda Umstead
Mililani