SETTING THE RIGHT EXAMPLE

Mahalo and kudos to Gary Craft ("Mahalo to Terese Barich," Letters,
May 16) for his many years of dedication to the teaching of our
children. Mahalo and kudos to all teachers and school administrators
dedicated to the education of our future leaders. Mahalo and kudos
also, to the dedicated parents raising children in today's society
that is permeated with post-modernistic and relativist perceptions of
everything from personal behavior to hard science.

God bless the parents setting a proper example for their children to
follow, while praying their efforts are enough to form a strong
foundation of morals and values that is the basis of a successful
society. But, how can parents compete with the negative influences
foisted on our children every day through television, movies and
music? Parents deserve the reassurance of knowing their children are
safe and properly cared for by those in positions that influence the
formation of a child's strong foundation.

Mr. Craft wrote, "I have found teachers to be the least drug
using/abusing group of individuals in our society." This indicates he
even knows teachers are not exempt from the activity of illegal drug
use.

Teachers are a major influence on a young child's life, but are mostly
strangers to the parents of these children. Is it too much to ask or
to give these parents a glimmer of hope that their child is safe in at
least one area of their life outside the home? What is undignified or
inappropriate about setting a positive example and earning the respect
of students and parents by implementing random drug testing?

Now, one final mahalo and kudo to all of the "big box" stores that
have plenty of employment opportunities for those who don't agree with
random drug tests.

JOSEPH VRATARIC

Lihu'e