Input sought
Input sought
An exciting event is about to take place.
Our governor is asking the community for input on our dream for public education.
With the new federal law that replaces No Child Left Behind, we have the freedom to return to locally based education and ditch the Common Core standards, which were rated lower than our previous standards. We can abandon expensive mainland standardized tests, which were never field tested, are developmentally inappropriate and lack in research to show their validity. Teachers were not allowed to see these tests, so students were set up to fail.
With the new federal law, the state must PROVE the community had input into the blueprint for public education.
People need to bring their biggest, boldest dreams for our educational system to the town hall meeting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 in the cafeteria of Waiakea High School.
Mireille Ellsworth
Hilo
A bad example
Recently on Facebook, a young woman who has a page called “Allison’s Adventures” posted a self interview and pictures of her dream and desire to swim with the lava that is flowing into the ocean in Kalapana.
Many ignorant tourists and locals do not understand the safety aspect of this situation. It was expressed on the news recently and numerous other times about the hazards and dangers many tourists and locals do not realize.
Hot lava explodes when coming into contact with the water or trapped gases being released and sending hot lava fragments flying. Also, there’s the constant cracking and breaking off of the cliff side and crashing into the ocean.
This Allison is putting herself in a potentially life-threatening situation, thus possibly putting other lives in jeopardy to save hers, all because she feels the great need and desire to be in this dangerous situation.
Also, she is influencing and setting a bad example for countless other ignorant people to do the same. We already have so many disregarding safety barriers and warnings at this site and many other areas that the “monkey see, monkey do” mentality will be activated. Look at the other attractions throughout our state and all the injuries, deaths, rescues and recoveries that have to be done because people disregard warnings, then file suit for their losses because of their own stupidity.
People, local and foreign, young and old, need to be more aware. I deal with tourists and advise them of hazards and to respect the culture, and I also deter them from doing various activities such as swimming in the Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls area for their own life preservation.
I hope better examples can be shared to prevent future tragedies.
Cary Tahara
Hilo