September 1st, 2010 - Ka Leo O Hawaii

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Volu me 105 Issue 16

Race to the Top raises implementation concerns SAM K ING Investigative Reporter

Winning the “Race to the Top” (RT T T) grant on Aug. 25 has sparked some concern amongst Hawai‘i’s teachers and education professionals. The federal money, totaling $75 million, is meant to focus on creating a performancebased contract system for public school teachers and principals, turn around failing schools, implement national standards for Hawai‘i’s students, improve data collection to keep track of student progress grades K-12, and reorganize the Department of Education (DOE) to make it more effi cient. Clifton Tanabe, an assistant professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Education, is happy to see Hawai‘i receive RT T T federal money, but he is concerned about the next steps. “Seventy-five million (dollars) in federal funds is a nice addition to the education budget, but without an extremely effective implementation process, it is unlikely to improve public education in Hawai‘i. Our job as community members is to make clear to the state that we want that money to go to good use.” Formerly a Sacred Hearts Academy teacher, Jennifer Porter is now a law school student at the William S. Richardson School of Law, and she is also concerned about how performance contracts will be initiated. “I have issues with performance-based contracts if those contracts depend upon how well a student does on a test,” said Porter. “Teaching to perform well on a test does not necessarily mean that critical thinking skills are being taught.” Zach Dilonno, a former special education inclusion teacher for the Teach for America (TFA) program, spent three years at Ilima

RICK NEASE/MCT

Though the federal money promised to Hawai‘i is good news for its public school system, there are those who are worried about exactly how the money will be administered. Intermediate in Ewa Beach. Dilonno believes performance-based contracts could be an excellent tool for rewarding good teachers as opposed to a cudgel for punishing under-performing ones. Speaking on his own behalf, not representing TFA in any way, Dilonno said, “ W hy shouldn’t teachers who pull their students’ performance to

high levels be rewarded for their hard work and efforts?” “I was extremely frustrated that while I pushed my students’ reading levels two years in a single academic year ... several 5-, 10- and even 25-year veteran teachers, who remained indifferent and unmotivated to try new, innovative things to push student learning, earned the same or more than I did. This

is not fair and ... consistently convinces highly talented potential teachers to look elsewhere for a profession,” he said. At the press conference announcing the awarding to Hawai‘i, A lvin Nagasako, the head of the Hawai‘i State Teacher’s Association ( HS TA), the public school teacher’s union, explained that the per-

formance -based system has not been hammered out yet. The presentation team, which included representatives from Kamehameha Schools, P20 - an education lobbying group, the HSTA and the DOE, is set to return to Washington, D.C. to negotiate exactly how the money will be distributed to the state over a 4-year time period. No one seems to know if that money will be contingent on Hawai‘i living up to its reform promises or if it will simply fl ow in over time. One big development that could be signifi cant for school reform across the country has been Washington, D.C.’s recent contract agreement. That is big news because education reform heavyweight Michelle Rhee, D.C. Schools’ Superintendent, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Teachers Association’s 1.4 million member union, have been fi ghting a bitter fi ght over Rhee’s attempts to bring performance-based contracts to D.C. But the fi nal document they produced focuses part of teacher evaluations on tests scores and another part on in-class evaluations of the teachers. That will supposedly allow teachers to focus on teaching quality in class and less on teaching to the test. So far, Hawai‘i’s proposal sounds like it will be something close to that. As Nagasako said in the press conference, “Fifty percent of the teacher evaluation will be based on student growth and 50 percent will be based on teacher effectiveness and teacher growth.” Randall Roth, UH Law professor, former education reformist under Governor Lingle, and author of “Broken Trust”, agrees with Tanabe’s cautious optimism. “It’s a good plan on paper. If the implementation is equally good, there will be much to celebrate.”

Ka Leo O Hawai‘i EDITOR REECE FARINAS ASSOCIATE ALVIN PARK FEATURES @ KALEO.ORG

F EATURES 3

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

Chinese-American songwriter performs eclectic concert

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M ICHAEL BREWER Video Editor Imagine a concert hall fi lled with the sounds of Chinese opera. Then, underneath the high voices, insert African-American jazz rhythms and chords. This is part of baritone saxophone virtuoso Fred Ho’s repertoire of sounds, and he’s just arrived in Hawai‘i for a solo concert at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. What makes Fred Ho different than most jazz artists around town? For one, the Harvard alumnus graduated with a degree in sociology, according to the Harvard website. He never studied music in school. “I was spared the cultural indoctrination of Western music,” said Ho. “When I was in school, jazz was pretty much a Western European canon … What you sounded like was a result of your teacher.” He calls it a feudal apprenticeship. Ho would later go on to be an activist and organizer for an Asian-American cultural center in the 1970’s in Boston’s Chinatown. He claims this was the beginning of his fascination for combining COURTESY OF UH SYSTEM traditional Asian music with African-American jazz. Fred Ho combines Chinese and African-American culture through music, poetry and “I spent a lot of time working activism. His music can be heard tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Art Auditorium. with immigrant folk singers and culture, poetry, and most importo Liberation” and “Afro Asia.” instrumentalist,” said Ho. In his younger days, he called tantly, music, all coming together For him, it was studying; speaking with immigrant folks himself a poet. In a phone conversa- in a fl uid art of performance. Ho is in Hawai‘i this week. and capturing the sounds of Asia tion, he spoke about music as something that shouldn’t be a “prisoner The fan of kalua pork calls through their stories. Hawai‘i a “second home.” Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., students When I was in school, jazz was pretty much a can hear Ho perform at the Art Western European canon … Building Auditorium. It’s a solo performance, so “I take studying very serious- to a notated page. Notation should don’t expect a Chinese opera to back him. The improvisatory and be a catalyst, not a prison.” ly,” he said. According to Ho, poetry is very eclectic vision of music he has will Studying turned into political activism, and that turned into close to African-American jazz pique anybody’s interest, as long co-authoring and editing several music, which brings to mind his as they come with “an open heart books, with names like “Legacy overlaying idea of Afro-Chinese and an open mind,” said Ho.

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“The 2010 Warrior football season kicks off tomorrow against the No. 14 USC Trojans. But despite the excitement, the

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Warriors remain focused...

S TU DE N T S GE AR U STUDE UP P

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“Members of the Warrior football team aren’t the only ones that want to see the No. 14 USC Trojans de-

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feated tomorrow...

USC WOE S

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“The history of the USC Trojan football team is littered with success. ... But with all the glory has

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come controversy...

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G RIDIRON

Ka Leo O Hawai‘i EDITOR RUSSELL TOLENTINO ASSOCIATE MARC ARAKAKI SPORTS @ KALEO.ORG

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

Warriors battle Trojans in season opener K IYOMI UEDA Staff Reporter

The 2010 Warrior football season kicks off tomorrow against No. 14 USC Trojans. But despite the excitement, the Warriors remains focused. “No matter who we line up against this season, we have to play our game,” senior wide receiver Rodney Bradley said. “Everyone wants to make a big deal out of SC. I respect them as men, just as I respect all of our other opponents.” The team is also committed to each other. “(Head coach Greg McMackin), emphasized on being one as a team. We need to think as one and play as one,” junior defensive end Alasi Toilolo said. “Our main goal is to have faith in all the work we put in during the off season.”

The Trojans, under first-year head coach Lane Kiffi n, hope to rebound from a dismal summer where the team was hit with several penalties from the NCAA over violations

The Warrior coaching staff saw a shift in offensive and defensive coordinators after last season’s 6-7 finish, as well as the departure of longtime wide receivers coach Ron Lee.

I know for a fact that they are going to come out and play hard. That’s how it should be, I wouldn’t have it any other way. that occurred while former running back Reggie Bush was at USC. But USC’s troubles don’t phase Bradley. “I’m not thinking about the violations they received, to be honest, or how they are going to come out and play,” he said. “I know for a fact that they are going to come out and play hard. That’s how it should be, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nick Rolovich and Dave Aranda are the new offensive and defensive coordinators; they are among the youngest coordinators in the nation. Also, former defensive coordinator Cal Lee was named an assistant head coach. Mouse Davis, a former Warrior special team coach, filled Ron Lee’s position. Davis was an originator of the Warriors’ run and shoot offense. “Having Mouse is going to play

a huge part in our success as an offense this season. He really challenges us to be great on and off the field,” Bradley said. “Putting a big emphasis on doing your own job to be the best of your ability, getting better and improving a part of your game each and every day are just some of the things he stresses that makes us a better receiving core, which ultimately makes us a better offense.” Bradley returns this season after breaking his leg during last year’s game against Idaho. The Warriors return 11 other starters, including All-American candidate, senior wide receiver Greg Salas. Salas had a breakout season last year racking up 1,509 yards in 106 receptions for eight touchdowns. He has been named to three preseason All-American teams and is on the Biletnikoff Award watch

list, which is awarded to the nation’s top receiver. For Bradley, tomorrow’s game will be just like any other. “No special tricks or magic will go into our game plan,” said Bradley. “Our coaches have done a great job of getting us ready for this game so all we have to do is go out and do our part, which is to execute.” Toilolo feels positively about their first appearance. “We’re just gonna lay it on the table and come out confident,” Toilolo said.

GAME TIME Tomorrow 5 p.m. at Aloha Stadium Match will be shown live on ESPN.

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Ka Leo O Hawai‘i EDITOR RUSSELL TOLENTINO ASSOCIATE MARC ARAKAKI SPORTS @ KALEO.ORG

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

Students gear up for Warrior football season opener

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Student ticket prices for the UH game against USC are $15 with a validated UH system ID. RUSSELL TOLENTINO Sports Editor Members of the Warrior football team aren’t the only ones that want to see the No. 14 USC Trojans defeated tomorrow. “Looking forward to seeing some red and yellow on the ground,” said Brent Barbero, a senior who is double-majoring in communications and speech. “I never really liked USC.” Tomorrow, University of Hawai‘i students and fans will be filling the seats at Aloha Stadium to support the Warriors in their season opener against the Trojans at 5 p.m. Alasi Toilolo, a junior defensive end for the Warriors, said the fans are important to the team. “It’s the best feeling in the world to have people come out and support us; family, friends, espe-

cially the students,” Toilolo said. “It helps us, it motivates us and we are here to play for our state, for our families and our school.” Freshman Crystal Tahata, a part of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, and Barbero both said they are looking forward to seeing how this year’s team plays. “It’s interesting to see how the new season is with the different players,” Tahata said. “We got a fi rst good look coming up against a quality team,” Barbero said. He also said that he enjoys the atmosphere at games. “I like the tailgates, and football is action packed so everyone should be psyched to watch the game,” he said. “It’s one of the best parts (of college) for me, being out there tailgating and yelling in the stands.

“I feel like we’ve been in a drought since there (hasn’t been) football for a while,” Barbero said. “I’m just stoked for football in general.” Ryan Pelosi, a freshman majoring in international business, also said attending football games is an important part of the college experience. “Everyone has to go to a football game at least once,” he said. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that USC is one of the top college football programs, and has won 11 national titles. “It’s my first college football game and it’ll be especially cool because it’s against USC,” Pelosi said. “It’s going to be an epic game, especially for my friends and me to see a live college football game for our school.” USC is a 21-point favorite against the Warriors, but does Pelosi think Hawai‘i can win? “Yeah,” he said. “Hell yeah.”

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Ka Leo O Hawai‘i EDITOR RUSSELL TOLENTINO ASSOCIATE MARC ARAKAKI SPORTS @ KALEO.ORG

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

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S P O R T S C OMM E N TA RY

USC plagued by offseason controversy RUSSELL TOLENTINO Sports Editor The histor y of the USC Trojan football team is littered with success. The program has 11 national titles, 38 conference titles, seven Heisman Trophy winners, 78 All-Americans and over 40 players in the NFL. But with all the glory has come controversy, and this past summer was no exception. In June, the NCA A banned the Trojans from postseason play for two years, stripped them of scholarships (10 every year for the next three years), and made USC forfeit the 2004 national title and a year’s worth of games because of improper benefits that former running back and Heisman winner Reggie Bush received from sports

marketing agents. Ouch. Overall, USC has had six major NCA A infractions, according to the Los Angeles Times – all related to football. Prior to this summer, the last one came in 2001 when the NCA A found that tutors wrote academic papers for members on the football and women’s swimming teams. With six, USC is tied for 11th (with nine other schools) for the most NCA A infractions. But perhaps this summer’s infractions weren’t as painful as USC cornerback T.J. Bryant having to get surgery on his left cheekbone in August. Why? Well, ask teammate Stanley Havili, who provided the injury. The two got into an altercation during a “high-intensity�

drill according to ďŹ rst year head coach Lane KifďŹ n. “Emotions were high. When emotions are high, intelligence is down. It was an intense workout, and I let it get the best of me,â€? Havili told the Associated Press. “We shouldn’t have gone that far.â€? Bryant was out for three weeks while Havili, a three-year starter at fullback, was banned from team activities. I guess that’s the Trojan’s version of “taking one for the teamâ€?. In any case, Havili, a senior, is expected to start at FB against the Warriors while Bryant is fourth on the depth chart at CB. Whether from the NCA A or within the team, the Trojans have had a dismal offseason. But perhaps this is a case where “history repeats itselfâ€?, which is quite unfortunate for such a storied program.

GAME INFORMATION BUSES

Ten buses will depart tomorrow in front of Frear Hall and Gateway House to Aloha Stadium. Five buses will leave at 3:30 p.m. and another five will leave at 3:45 p.m. They will return to the same point, departing Aloha Stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

TICKETS

Tickets for the USC game are $15 for UH MÄ noa system students with a validated ID.

PARKING

Parking lot gates at Aloha Stadium open at 12 p.m. while the Lower HÄ lawa Lot opens at 11 a.m. Parking is $5. Alternative parking is available at Leeward Community College ($2 per person) and Kam Drive-In ($5 parking). A shuttle will run from 1 p.m. to one hour after the game from the two locations. Parking is also available at Radford High School ($5), but with no shuttle service. Stadium turnstiles open at 2 p.m.

EDITOR DERICK FABIAN

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 CO M I C S @k aleo.org

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puzzles • classif ieds • horoscopes

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

By Mark Bickham

9/1/10

ACROSS 1 Energy 4 It’s an example of itself

8 Pure 14 Suffix with verb 15 “Star Trek: T.N.G.” counselor

Horoscopes By Nancy Black and Stephanie Clements Tribune Media Services (MCT) Today’s birthday (9/1/10). The coming year promises intense work activities. You discover new sources of information to amplify or expand your thinking. Work with associates to turn bright ideas into good fortune for everyone involved. Team up to increase revenue sources. To get the advantage, check the day’s

16 Bring about sooner 17 Young woman next door? 19 Green light 20 Architect Saarinen 21 Earth pigment 23 Hide-hair link 24 Adjoining floor? 28 Fireside emanation 30 “__ me!” 31 ’50s White House nickname 32 Certain fisherman 35 Annoys 39 __ Piper 41 Police sting, say 43 Grimace 44 Happen as a result 46 “Who Can It __?”: Men at Work hit 48 Exhaust, with “up” 49 [see other side] 51 Brought up 53 Proximate coins? 58 Spell 59 Loosen, as laces 60 Emerald City visitor 63 List of things to discuss 66 Chess piece within reach? 68 Dividend, e.g. 69 Germany’s von Bismarck 70 Letter opener? 71 “When a Man Loves a Woman” singer Percy __ 72 Insolence 73 Generous limit? DOWN 1 Area 2 “Got it” 3 Bosc sources 4 24-hr. cash source 5 French breads

rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 5 -- You feel pressure at work to manage multiple tasks in a tight time frame. Focus on what you have and avoid discussion of impractical ideas. Taurus (April 20--May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Address practical details of construction. Your imagination has already taken you a long way, and now you need to cut to the chase. Gemini (May 21--June 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Match your actions to your thoughts. You have plenty of those to keep you busy all day. If you get stuck

6 “The Garden of Earthly Delights” artist 7 Hindu poet 8 Old battlefield shout 9 Is suffering from 10 Beast of burden 11 Court figure 12 Pavarotti, notably 13 Datebook notation 18 Part of a Clue accusation 22 Football play also called a sweep 25 Adaptable truck, for short 26 “Casablanca” pianist 27 Request to a barber 28 Use a napkin on 29 Like, with “to” 33 Charles __, major decorator of the Palace of Versailles 34 Somme season 36 Links groups 37 A hothead has a short one 38 Future plant 40 Couples 42 Omens 45 “The Three Faces of __”: 1957 film 47 Very small 50 Treat as the same 52 Affectedly cultured 53 Biker leggings 54 Corporate department 55 Daisy variety 56 Pal of Porthos 57 Calf catcher 61 Chitchat 62 Part of SRO 64 Doze 65 Grooved on 67 Elaborate affairs

in one activity, just switch to another. Cancer (June 22--July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Mentally, you’ve already moved on to the next project. In the real world, you need to stick with today’s tasks just a bit longer. Be patient. Leo (July 23--Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Make yourself feel better by taking care of small things on your todo list. Checking items off allows you to perceive progress. Boost optimism with chocolate. Virgo (Aug. 23--Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Give extra thought to each communication today. Words can jump out unexpectedly if you’re not careful.

4 8 Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 thru 9. Puzzles will become progressively more difficult through the week. Solutions, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com Go to www.kaleo.org for this puzzle’s solution.

2 6 3

6 7 3

2

1 4

1 2

1 5

8 3

2 2

6 9 3

6 5

5 4

HARD

Think before you speak. Libra (Sept. 23--Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Internalize all the info coming to you from both practical and mystical sources. Intuition supplements practical action for results. Scorpio (Oct. 23--Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Your primary focus is on group activities. Pay attention to both household and family concerns. A surprise party may be in order. Sagittarius (Nov. 22--Dec. 21) -Today is a 6 -- Social obligations have you in a tizzy. Family members want to go in several directions, and you manage the schedule. Write it all down.

# 88

Capricorn (Dec. 22--Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Every part of your psyche wants to aim high and meet big goals. You accomplish this through careful attention to details. Check your logic. Aquarius (Jan. 20--Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Someone else’s finances might become an issue for you as you prioritize. You may need to make up for delayed anticipated income. Pisces (Feb. 19--March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Your favorite people deserve extra attention now. You may not fully understand their needs at first. Clear questions and sensitivity clue you in.

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O PINIONS 11

Ka Leo O Hawai‘i EDITOR CHRIS MIKESELL OPINIONS @ KALEO.ORG

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

Reading between the lines Taking a closer look at two letters we received last week makes us think about letters as more than just black and white. C HRIS M IKESELL Opinions Editor

Last week, Ka Leo printed two letters it received about MuďŹ Hannemann and Ka Leo’s coverage of his campaign. While the letters expressed the opinions of their authors, there was an additional factor in both that drew attention to issues of disclosure.

N E W S PA P E R S AT U R AT I O N I thought William Nhieu, the author of the ďŹ rst letter we ran last week Wednesday, had written his letter in response to the commentary we printed last Monday, but his intent was different. “I wrote it mostly in response to an article written in the Star-Advertiser, but I guess you guys published it on Wednesday, and it worked,â€? Nhieu said. His same letter also appeared in Honolulu Weekly. This practice of writing a letter in response to one article and sending it to multiple newspapers is a common one, according to Chuck Freedman, chair of the Brian Schatz campaign for Lieutenant Governor. “Back when we had both the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, people would frequently send a letter to each in hopes that it would get printed in at least one of them,â€? said Freedman. Content aside, Freedman doesn’t see writing letters to two or more publications as an ethical issue if the opinion is sincere, even if the letters are initiated by a political campaign.

“ There are campaigns that do that, and it ’s not necessarily bad if they’re real letters that come from real people,� Freedman said.

OMM I S S I O N I S W R I T E R ĘźS P R E RO GAT I V E Another letter in response to that same commentary last Monday came from Hollis Wilson, a UH MÄ noa student majoring in Anthropology. In it, she too defended MuďŹ Hannemann’s political advertisement. However, Hollis Wilson, in addition to being a UH MÄ noa student, is also the daughter of both Carolyn Tanaka, spokeswoman for the MuďŹ Hannemann campaign, and David Wilson, cohead of a PR ďŹ rm assisting MuďŹ Hannemann’s campaign. Ka L eo was not made aware of this connection until after the letter had gone to print – it didn’t come up in my confirmation and fact checking, nor did Wilson disclose that information in her letter. I asked Wilson in a phone interview why she chose not to disclose her relationship with these two members of the Hannemann campaign and she told me that she felt it wasn’t relevant. “I wasn’t writing it on behalf of my family, I wasn’t writing it

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on behalf of the fact that they’re involved in his campaign,â€? said Wilson. “I was writing it on behalf of that’s the fact of my opinion. I didn’t feel like it was pertinent information. “It happens to be a great coincidence, yes, but like I said, if my dad had decided to back Neil Abercrombie’s campaign instead I wouldn’t agree with him.â€? I asked two experts on media ethics at UHM about whether or not Wilson’s relationship to the Hannemann campaign was important information, and even the experts couldn’t agree on whether this omission was questionable. Ann Auman, chair of the Journalism program at UH MÄ noa, said that Wilson’s omission was questionable when we interviewed her via e-mail, especially given her father’s background in public relations. “I think it was wrong of Ms. Wilson not to disclose that she is the daughter of Mr. Hannemann’s paid campaign consultant,â€? Auman said. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it ‘unethical’ ‌ but she really should have said something.â€? But Tom Kelleher, associate professor at the School of Communications, had a different take on Wilson’s omission. See Campaign coverage, next page

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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2010

Campaign coverage: DISCUSSING READER RESPONSE “It ’s hard to say because it gets into intent,” said Kelleher. “I can see how somebody might say it ’s unethical, but she put her full name on it and didn’t tr y to hide it.” Kelleher said that such an omission would get into ques-

from previous page

tionable ethical territory if and only if Wilson were doing any kind of formal work for the Hannemann campaign, something that Wilson denies she is doing. But Kelleher also said that even if Wilson is related to Hannemann’s top staffers, she has

First Amendment rights just like everyone else. “She’s got the same right to her opinion as any other citizen,” Kelleher said. “It’s not like she was anonymous or trying to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.” I have no reason to believe

that Wilson – like any other selfrespecting 26 -year-old college student – does whatever her parents tell her to do. “I am obviously an adult who has a mind of my own and the right to make my own choices based on what I believe, not on what I’m being told by my parents,” said Wilson. So, what do we learn from this situation? The real issue that these letters present is one that newspapers struggle with every day: where do we draw the line with disclosure? Should every author of a letter to the editor have their relationship to the issue revealed? How can a newspaper help the public to understand the angle each letter is coming from? Newspapers strive to be fair and unbiased, yet at the same time they house an opinions section. Should that section be used

to promote one candidate, or should it equally evaluate each and then form a conclusion based on that evaluation? There is nothing wrong with Nhieu’s or Wilson’s letter to the editor, and we appreciate the input from both of them, but we would have also appreciated knowing the whole story behind their letters. Newspapers and the community can best help each other have a fair, meaningful, and active discussion on important matters by being honest with one another. The saturation of letters and the ommision of a relationship to the issue were both factors that add a new dimension to their respective letters - a dimension that would have changed the way in which those letters were interpreted, and that ’s something the public has a right to know about.

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