It's unbelievable that the members of the state Board of Education fail to understand that public schools must be drug free by not allowing trained dogs to detect drugs without limitations (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 23). Once entering state property all vehicles, purses, bags, lockers, backpacks should be subject to search. Any illegal substances found on any administrator, teacher, student or employee should be cause for immediate termination and expulsion. Maybe then, in a safe, drug-free environment, children may actually learn something. Pauline Arellano Mililani [end]
The Makanis are blowing. Change already has begun. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Health now are working together. A new mental-health court has begun in Hilo. It's nice to see positive changes so soon after the election. We should demand that our schools be drug free. The ice epidemic is so huge that no family is immune. There is nothing wrong with expecting our children to obey the law and to learn early that illegal behavior has serious consequences. Only when you admit and identify the problem can you begin to search for an answer, and get them the help they need. Our kids deserve no less. Pauline Arellano Mililani [end]
