• Rodney an akamai realist • Valuing equality and diversity • I too will stand by the word of God • Core Knowledge Rodney an akamai realist Mahalo for Paul Curtis’ touching, heartfelt report on the passing of Rodney Ahn
• Rodney an akamai realist • Valuing equality and diversity • I too will stand by the word of God • Core Knowledge
Rodney an akamai realist
Mahalo for Paul Curtis’ touching, heartfelt report on the passing of Rodney Ahn (“Brother: Rodney Ahn died happy in Kalalau Valley,” The Garden Island, Feb. 17).
I frequently camp at Kalalau and was privileged to know Rodney — a bright spirit with a welcoming smile. But Rodney was also a tough survivor, an akamai realist.
He knew the ‘aina and the life of the land. Wise, generous and humble, Rodney lived simply, creatively and respectfully.
He lived with Mother Nature — not against her — and walked lightly on this island.
In many cultures Rodney would have been a holy man, a sadu or a crazy wisdom monk revered, sought out and supported. In our culture Rodney was branded by official “society” a homeless outlaw, an illegal camper, a government trespasser.
In my book “Taylor Camp” I quote my friend Billy Kaohelaulii saying, “Simple living is real hard now.” It’s not only hard Billy, it’s illegal.
John Wehrheim, Lihu‘e
Valuing equality and diversity
I find it interesting that people are citing the “sanctity of marriage” as a reason to block civil unions.
I wonder if they realize that as recently as the 1960s, there were still laws in place to prohibit interracial marriage? If marriage is indeed sacred, we violated it with prejudice long before this civil unions issue.
Let’s not make the same mistake again by barring select couples from equal protections.
Worse still, we are the most diverse state in our nation, yet here our local community sits, unhealthily fixated on a group that is “different.” Here in Hawai‘i, we exist harmoniously with people who are different from us in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, and, yes, sexual orientation.
Let’s not lose sight of the quality that makes our state so special: acceptance of people from all walks of life.
Some say that this bill has come at “a bad time” and that we have other, more pressing issues to attend to. If I’m not mistaken, our nation has come to value both equality and diversity. That fact alone makes this bill a very pressing issue.
Aaron Gorospe, Mililani
I too will stand by the word of God
Bravo, Tom Iannucci. I love it when true Christians as yourself stand up for their beliefs with such conviction without worry of political correctness.
I myself am also such a person that shares your faith in Jesus Christ.
It will be hard for the “Intelligent” people, the heathens, or the spiritually challenged religious people to rebuttal your letter of Feb. 4. Very well written. What makes it so absolute is that it is the word of God — not just your opinion and one can not argue with that.
To everyone else, the whole issue here about HB444 is whether or not you believe in God and believe that the Bible is the word of God. (In its entirety.) If you are a believer you have an obligation to stand up and protest bill HB444 for the degradation of the family unit.
We must remember that our powerful forefathers that founded this great nation that we live in were based on a Judeo-Christian faith when writing the Constitution. The term In God We Trust was so important to them that they had it printed on our currency to show other nations around the world what we stood for, by what we feared.
Faith can move mountains, and that faith in God has allowed this nation to succeed. And in the end when we stand judgment before God, may we all be worthy enough to experience his mercy.
David Rich, Waimea
Core Knowledge
State Board of Education member Maggie Cox cited discipline, attendance problems, failing grades in language arts and math as reasons one-third of the class of 2013 will drop out in a Jan. 26 story in The Garden Island.
The Step-Up Diploma will allegedly fix the problem, requiring more rigorous coursework. One shouldn’t build skyscrapers on crumbling foundations.
In “The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking Education Gap for American Children,” E.D. Hirsch promotes the Core Knowledge curriculum of “systematic acquisition of broad knowledge.” The background content required to become excellent readers and learners is not being taught in most elementary schools, and CK addresses this head on.
Core Knowledge builds a solid, sequenced, specific and shared foundation across subject matter areas required for achievement. Over 1,000 schools nationwide use it, 53 percent public, and two private schools in Hawai‘i.
Schools that use it like it and do well. Learning takes place and is drawn upon during tests. Students receive the foundation they require to tackle advanced subjects. Accomplishment is evident and builds, reducing discipline and attendance problems, that currently cause many to drop out either because they are bored or ill-prepared.
Hawai‘i should encourage its public pre-school and elementary schools to incorporate the CK curriculum now. If there is resistance, citizens should begin a Detailed Implementation Plan to create Core Knowledge charter schools. If there is still resistance, concerned citizens should begin private Core Knowledge schools. Give our children a fighting chance.
Cynthia Balderson, Kalaheo
