Letters for Jan. 20, 2016 Honors classes key to education With many years of (education) experience between us, we were surprised that Kapaa High School would consider eliminating honors classes for 9th grade students, especially those who had been in
Letters for Jan. 20, 2016
Honors classes key to education
With many years of (education) experience between us, we were surprised that Kapaa High School would consider eliminating honors classes for 9th grade students, especially those who had been in honors or advanced classes before and had been successful.
To add a required “transitional” class for advanced students who have probably been using Gmail and Google for years, thus merely wasting their and their teachers’ time, is beyond our understanding.
We wonder if the principal and the single teacher quoted have studied the research before making this decision. We also wonder how all of the teachers feel, because, in our experience, teacher burnout is one of the major causes of teachers leaving the profession. To ask a teacher to teach, especially at high school, advanced math to some in a class and remedial math to others in the same class, while continuing to teach the average student and make sure that everyone is able to pass all of the required high-stakes tests sounds overwhelming to us.
It seems to us that the students will suffer as well as the teachers. Students will get a fraction of the attention of the teacher, no matter how good the teacher is. Will these same teachers be held accountable for all of their students to pass those high-stakes tests, prevent dropouts, and their advanced students excel? Or will they be fired or encouraged to quit if they cannot?
Barbara and Kenneth Smith
Princeville
Details needed on helicopter landing
I was dismayed that Blue Hawaiian did not return your calls regarding the crash of one of their helicopters on the Na Pali coast. Your euphemism “hard landing” does not suffice when some of the passengers are in guarded condition at Queen’s Hospital. The public deserves and explanation whether this was mechanical failure or pilot error. I know the pilots to be very experienced. Many tourists, including my friends want to take the helicopter tours and they deserve to know the safety record of Blue Hawaiian. Was this an isolated incident? How many times over the last five years have there been incidents with this company and were they mechanical or pilot error? The Garden Island does nobody a favor, except the owners and employees of Blue Hawaiian, by not reporting fully on this issue.
Jon Appleton
Princeville
Recall notice raises rental car concerns
President Obama signed into law on Dec. 4 the ‘‘Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2015.” Rental car companies will no longer be able to rent any car that has a manufacturers’ recall notice that has not been repaired.
I wonder how this will be accomplished on the outer islands, such as Kauai, where there may not be an automobile dealer with a repair facility for some of the makes and models that are in the car rental fleets.
As a frequent visitor to Kauai I have more than a passing interest in this issue.
Wally Roberts
San Clemente, CA
