Mixture of proposals would make best plan

Candidates for the Board of Education's six empty seats generally agree that key obstacles to student achievement include a lack of a strategic plan, low accountability, and poor resources.

To solve these problems, perhaps a mix of candidates' views would work best at developing a plan of action for Hawaii's schools.

Marilee Lyons proposes a greater emphasis on proper verbal and written English skills. James Kuroiwa Jr. and Jaqueline Heupel call for better leadership of the system, while Debra Rezents and Winston Sakurai are pushing for smaller class sizes.

Attorney and college professor Damien Horigan is promoting not only English skills, but math and second languages as well.

In addition, those elected should push for better discipline in public schools. Any student who does not wish to continue his or her education should be forced to leave, allowing other students to focus on learning.

If the most successful countries are those that highly value education, it's time for Hawai'i to do the same.