Senator Tam cares about
all schools in the state

Recent newspaper articles have involved state Sen. Rod Tam and whether he "brings home the bacon" for his constituent public schools or, on the other hand, acts in the interest of the greater educational community.

As a constituent and one who has worked with him on statewide educational concerns since he was first elected to the state House in 1982, I can report that he does both.

All things being equal, the senator does everything that he reasonably can for the schools in his district but he has never put the needs of those schools before the needs of all schools.

For example, as current co-chairman of the Senate Education Committee, he successfully:

Fought to maintain the statewide student-teacher ratio of 20-1 in kindergarten through third grade;

Worked to get full-time school registrars in all intermediate schools and full-time athletic trainers in all high schools;

Expanded the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program from kindergarten through grade 12.

Also, he has worked to give the DOE more than $35 million in general funds and $17 million more in capital improvement funds for statewide school repair and maintenance, as well as an additional $2.5 million for much needed instructional supplies.

John Radcliffe

All legislators should be
as effective as Rod Tam

Recently, state Sen. Rod Tam received negative press because schools in his district received funds for improvements. One example cited was the auditorium at Roosevelt High School.

Our PTSA Board does not consider this project to be a luxury but rather a necessity long overdue and a benefit for the entire community.

Another senator, Dan Inouye, is criticized for "bringing home the bacon" and spending on his district. Yet he is the highest vote getter in Hawaii.

That is politics! Perhaps all politicians should encourage spending on the schools in their districts.

Bill Buxman
President, PTSA
Roosevelt High School

Tam should be ashamed
of bringing home the pork

As a former resident, I was appalled by state Sen. Rod Tam's "leadership" in providing his home district with $9 million in educational bacon. Evidently, Tam doesn't understand his role in providing educational leadership for all the children of Hawaii.

As a legislator, Tam has a responsibility to serve all students, not just those in his district. By taking a myopic perspective, he has self-determined who will be the winners and losers of the educational money pie.

The children of Hawaii deserve better than the type of cronyism displayed by Tam. I recommend that he read Stephen Covey's book, "Seven Habits of Effective Leadership." Based on his recent behavior, Tam doesn't seem to understand principles of leadership.

I wonder how he and similar legislators sleep at night knowing others with greater need will have to do without.

Alan R. Shoho
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership
University of Texas-San Antonio

Jack Scaff didn't deserve
to be vilified in paper

I am writing to tell you how much I deplore the numerous negative reports in your pages about the Great Trans Koolau Trek, and particularly one sportswriter's personal attacks on Dr. Jack Scaff, the race director.

There was no cause to vilify anyone during coverage of this colorful event. Unfortunately, the intemperate and frequently inaccurate coverage by your writer served to embarrass an entire community.

Phillip B. Olsen

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