LIBRARIANS PLAY KEY ROLE IN EDUCATION

Who is to say who is an essential worker and who is a nonessential worker? Certainly it is not the governor. Everyone is an essential worker. In each school, it is the efforts of the entire school team that makes the system function.

School librarians are teachers, foremost. Hawai'i public school librarians are required to have a teaching certificate and a master of library and information science degree.

The primary role is the school librarian's instructional function as an active partner in the teaching and learning process. The librarian's expertise is in the instruction of research skills, communication skills, and technology skills. Through instruction of these skills, the school librarian connects learners with ideas and information, prepares students for life-long learning, informed decision-making, a love for reading and use of information technologies. The continuous collaboration between the school librarian and the classroom teacher focuses on the content standards that the 21st century learners need to be taught.

Governor, you are encouraged to visit a school library and meet the librarian. The librarian will appreciate your visit. Please do not differentiate between an essential worker and a nonessential worker. Each worker has a role in the school that sustains and supports student learning.

UH BASKETBALL

WINNING REWARDED; LOSING SHOULDN'T BE

I note that the new University of Hawai'i-Manoa basketball coach is receiving a contract with additional bonuses if he reaches certain performance levels. I sure hope the contract also includes a clause that if he does not achieve a certain level of success he is out, no questions asked.

The last coach's contract did not seem to be the life lesson UH should be teaching young people if you succeed you get bonuses, if you fail you get a big fat buyout.

BITTERSWEET END

SUGAR-FREE BAKERY CLOSING ITS DOORS

After church on March 28, I drove over to the "Sweet Nothings" sugar-free bakery on Waimanu Street to buy something to placate my "pie hole," only to be told by the saddened proprietor that he was closing up shop due to "hard times."

I'm a diabetic.

The only one-stop sugar-free shop in the city is no more. But the closing policy of "buy one, get one free," softened the blow.

I left the premises with a peach and custard pie.

But what do I, and other jonesing diabetics, do now for a doughnut fix?

AFTER EIGHT YEARS

IT'S TIME TO PUT GOP BACK IN ITS PLACE

We came into this deep recession because Republicans deregulated the banks and Wall Street, cut corporate taxes, tripled the debt, and started wars.

After eight years and with the world on the brink of disaster, we threw the bums out.

Now according to the teapartiers, Obama has to fix things without regulation, and without raising taxes, and the local militias are arming to start their own wars.

Wake up, people.

LEARNING LESSONS

LINGLE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO KINDERGARTEN

In "All I Ever Really Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten," author Robert Fulghum asserts that his most valued lessons of life were learned in kindergarten: "Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours "

Gov. Linda Lingle should be sent back to kindergarten because she must learn to cooperate with others.

Granted, the state government is financially weak, underscoring the need for thrift, but that is all the more reason that government leaders must meet and negotiate with other public leaders to help the state through this crisis.

Lingle's practice of negotiating through the media needlessly prolongs the furlough impasse, and could be rectified if the governor learns to cooperate with other people — the fundamental educational mission of kindergarten.

REVIEW WRONG

'MAUI: THE DEMIGOD' IS AN EXCELLENT SHOW

I went to Kumu Kahua Theatre to see "Maui: the Demigod."

It was wonderful. The best interpretive play about Hawaiian culture that I've seen in a long time.

However, if I had heeded the review by Joseph Rozmiarek in The Honolulu Advertiser, I am not sure that I would have attended. I know of one couple who had tickets and opted not to go after reading his review. It was indeed their loss.

I would recommend this play to the people of Hono-lulu. They will not be disappointed.

BIG ISLAND

POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE THEIR RAISES

Big Island Councilman Dominic Yagong's proposal ("Big Island may freeze police, fire pay," April 2), to freeze upcoming pay raises for police and firefighters so that "they participate in the shared sacrifice of state and other county workers," is simply a political gambit to avoid addressing the regrettable reality of his office.

While state and other county workers will endure pay cuts and/or furloughs, police and firefighters face death and disability every second of every day they report for duty.

While others run away from threats, disaster and destruction, police and firefighters rush directly to the threat, disaster and destructive force to protect lives and property.

Police and firefighters from all four counties and throughout the country have been willing to make sacrifices far beyond pay cuts and furloughs long before this recession.

Rewarding their dedication, bravery and self sacrifice by reneging on an agreement is not the answer.

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS

PAY BACK USE OF 'SPECIAL FUND' MONEY

Use "special fund" monies to end all furlough Fridays for teachers and essential workers; however, the unions representing these workers should agree not to seek any new pay raises for their members until the economy improves and there is a surplus. There should be a stipulation that the monies for the "special funds" should then have to be reimbursed before the unions are allowed to negotiate for any future pay increase.