LOSING PREP DAYS A WORSE OPTION

The latest furlough fix proposes to replace teacher prep days with instructional days. The idea is that this would better serve students since they would have more "class time." This claim is absurd. Getting rid of all teacher prep days would be tantamount to converting all teaching days into babysitting days.

Teachers on furlough cannot enter their offices or campus to work; this is like a restaurant not allowing cooks to prep menu items until customers sit down to eat. One cannot offer quality food this way; the same can be said for education. To demand that children go to school more days without the benefit of fully prepared teachers is to ask children to sacrifice any chance at quality education.

The temporary furloughs seem to produce the least amount of harm to the education of the state's youth. Stick with that or demand an increase in state revenues to pay for the services. To act on this "fix" would show that the parents who support it care more about having a daycare service than a functioning school system, and that (surprise!) politicians respond to the loudest citizens. The combination of irresponsible parenting and irresponsible governance is a bad compromise.

MATTHEW LoPRESTI, PH.D | 'Aiea

ECONOMY

LET'S NOT FORGET REAL CULPRIT BEHIND WOES

I watched the news as Treasury Secretary Geithner was blasted by Congress. At one point he remarked that it was the Republican Senate that allowed the Bush administration to run our economy off a cliff. That's when I realized that none of these people were to blame for what has happened to our economy. It is the grand conclusion of an effort made by Osama bin Laden nearly a decade ago.

All reminders of the 9/11 nightmare have been taken off our televisions and now we have forgotten who is truly responsible for many of our problems. Sure, the Bush administration acted foolishly at times, but his administration merely reacted to a horrific terrorist attack on our nation.Now we're engaged in a war we can't walk away from, we're struggling economically, and our role as world leader is slipping through our fingers the harder we try to hold on to it.

If the economy and our national morale are so closely linked, I wonder what would happen if we finally caught bin Laden and brought him to justice. Would that not be a meaningful step toward economic recovery, or have we truly forgotten who started it all?

JASON GARRETT | Kailua

HANSON

COLUMNIST'S CRITICS WANT TO SHUT HIM UP

I have noticed recently a group of letters critical of the positions taken by Dr. Victor Davis Hanson. Uniformly, these letters are not only disparaging of Hanson's ideas, but also uniformly encourage The Advertiser to shut him up by killing his column, a notion popular 70 or so years ago in more intemperate political systems.

Those who abhor such demagoguery trust that The Advertiser will continue to offer Hanson's insights along with those who challenge them, and may even wish to comment editorially to those who feel so threatened by Hanson's ideas on the concept of freedom of expression and diversity of opinion.

FEDRICO BIVEN | Honolulu

BULKY ITEMS

MAYOR RIGHT TO STOP TRASH-PICKUP ABUSE

I was gratified to see that the mayor's office has decided to take on the abuse of bulky trash pickup. This is an islandwide problem that only seems to be getting worse and is a blight on all who call this home.

It amazes me how in my neighborhood the truck can go through on one day and within 24 hours somebody already has stuff out for next month's pickup. It's not right, nor fair to the neighborhood or your neighbor. I will do all I can to support the bill and get something passed by the council that will take on this problem and be an effective answer.

F.M. SCOTTY ANDERSON | Honolulu

EDUCATION, HEALTH

FREE MARKET AT LEAST FOSTERS EFFECTIVENESS

Comparing education to health care makes a lot of sense, but we have to be very careful when we use the term "the greater good is served" (Letters, Nov. 20). That statement alone can have very far-reaching consequences beyond education and even health care. Wouldn't it serve the "greater good" for those with extra bedrooms to be compelled to take in homeless people?

And I also believe John Cheever understates the situations in public schools. Insinuating we'd have to tolerate the same incompetence we see in many public schools (unionized workers who can't be fired for example) in our health care system scares the wits out of me and many other Americans.

The free market is not perfect, but at least it lives and breathes according to its effectiveness, meaning bad companies go out of business, unlike bad public schools.

KRIS SCHWENGEL | Honolulu

PRESCHOOL

CHILDREN MUST BE PRIORITY FOR STATE

With Hawaii having one one the highest costs of living in the United States and a high unemployment rate, it just amazes me how the state can cut subsidies for low- to moderate-income families. Preschool is a very important component of a child's education. Once again the education of Hawaii's children has been pushed aside.

And, once again the state is not looking at "the big picture." If parents are unable to obtain child care for their children, the parents are unable to work, because they need to watch their children.

It affects the ability to provide shelter and food. In the long run the state will have to pick up these finances, through state-affiliated help. Once again Hawaii's working families must pay the price for our state's inability to function correctly.

When will our state and politicians realize the children of Hawaii will contribute to the future of our state? Or, will it just be the children from the wealthy families who are not deprived of their educational needs? All of Hawaii's children deserve an education. They are all the future assets of our state!

ALICE LENCHANKO | Ewa Beach