Will school reform talk bring action?
By David Shapiro
One good thing to come out of the furor over public school furloughs is it guarantees school reform will be a major issue in the 2010 elections.
Gov. Linda Lingle says she'll spend her final year pushing a constitutional amendment to improve accountability in the schools by making the superintendent part of the governor's Cabinet, subject to legislative confirmation.
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the likely Republican candidate to replace Lingle, says he supports this and would also take another look at an earlier administration plan to break up the statewide school system into six local boards of education.
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, the major announced Democratic candidate for governor, cited the crisis in the schools as one of his reasons for resigning from Congress to work full-time on his campaign.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the other likely Democratic candidate, has taken great interest in the state's labor talks with the teachers, even though they don't involve the city.
The crowded race for lieutenant governor includes the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, the vice chair of the House Education Committee and a leader of the legislative group pushing to end furloughs.
Beyond the top races, the parents' groups that have formed to protest furloughs may produce fresh candidates for the Legislature and Board of Education.
While a lively discussion is assured, the real challenge will be to translate the talk into action after the election.
The general elements of school reform are well-accepted— some measure of decentralization, greater accountability, fewer fingers in the pie, a reliable source of funding, principals coming out of the union with more authority.
But the devil is in the details, as always, and the dense schools establishment has proved stubbornly resistant to systemic change despite reform efforts of virtually every governor and Legislature since the days of John A. Burns.
Volcanic Ash
January 14th, 2010 at 5:31 am
How I wish that the Advertiser would drop Victor Hanson, Krauthammer, Witcover columns. Such a waste of space to print junk! There are journalists who have the best interest of the American people.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Dave,
Not sure I understand this statement: "U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie ... cited the crisis in the schools as one of his reasons for resigning from Congress to work full-time on his campaign." What exactly is he going to work full time on? His campaign or looking at the problems in the school system and then trying to come up with reforms?
The only thing I know for sure is that reforming or improving schools is a complex, tough issue. There are so many problems involved. Sadly, one of the most basic is that too many students and too many parents or guardians do not value education and do not have the discipline required to succeed in school. How do we gain accountability on the part of students and parents/guardians? Or can we? The partnership between parents/guardians, teachers, students and administrators is not what it should be, perhaps because of lack of accountibility. Maybe the real question is how do we make people value education as our generation did? Finally, until there is a real sense of urgency on the part of all it is very unlikely that things will improve. Don't know the answers, hope Neil can come with with some, but not sure that I am optimistic.
January 14th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Aloha ~
Will school reform talk bring action? Action, yes ... will it be effective? NO ...
The problem with public education is us - each of us - and our democratic style of government, which is defined by compromise. Our public education system is a patchwork of overlapping policies, rules and procedures. If a particular fix is applied to one group, another group likely sues. The measure is then watered down to a one-size-fits-all approach.
This is why private and some charter schools have demonstrated success. They have been able to establish a niche in the market. They attract the students they can best reach and teach.
The more we air this debate in the public, the more we are forced to compromise, and the more we ensure our public schools will fit our Keiki's needs generally but not specifically. And students taught in this mass-transit approach lose motivation very quickly.
Yet I agree fully with maxcat who writes, too many students and too many parents or guardians do not value education ...
I taught various grade levels as well as university during my teaching stint. Talking with my mother, a career first grade teacher, about her decision to remain at this level, she told me she only wanted to teach first or second grade because, in her opinion, our Keiki are ruined by the system by the time they reach third grade.
Public school students lose their natural curiosity to learn by this time ... and if asked, most will tell you school is boring. Students reinforce this attitude with each other as it is culturally cool to hate school. Yet parents and the public are cynical as well. How do we expect our Keiki to remain focused when ALL their adult role models constantly scream about our failing system?
I didn't always enjoy school. I had a particularly poor teacher in 7th grade social studies. She was bad - and the district was forced to deal with her shortcomings years later. Yet I was 12-years-old, immature and found it far more interesting to hang out in the back of the room with the cool dudes rather than do the hard work in class.
When grades came out I earned a D. Both my parents were upset but I told them the teacher sucked; she was horrible; didn't explain things well; didn't give us exciting work, etc. You see, I had grown up around educators and knew good from poor teachers.
While this last part was true (she was a poor teacher), my parents - particularly my father - did not buy any of my excuses. My parents escorted me to a parent/teacher conference. They found out I was goofing off in the back and not putting my heart into the class.
I was given an ultimatum ... I could walk around for the rest of my life with my father's HUGE size 16 boot up my A$$ or I could get to work. My parents didn't care about my opinion that I thought the class was boring.
Even though I hated the class every day for the remainder of the year I pulled my grade up to a B. And how ironic today ... but I went on to do my PhD work in social studies!
If we examine Hawai'i's public schools we must realize we will never create a perfect system for 170,000+ Keiki. Yet even with all the flaws, it is good enough if parents and students put their all into getting a good education.
I am reminded of a favorite poem from the greatest of teachers, John Wooden. I don't believe he wrote it but he sure made sure we knew it.
You wonder how they do it and you look to see the knack,
You watch the foot in action, or the shoulder, or the back,
But when you spot the answer where the higher glamors lurk,
You'll find in moving higher up the laurel covered spire,
That the most of it is practice and the rest of it is work.
And from William Butler Yeats, Education is not the filling of a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire.
Race to the Top grants did not light my fire ... it was the fear of my father's boot that taught me to practice and work.
A*L*O*H*A
January 14th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Predictable Scott Goold still blames "us" (in bold letters!). How convenient. I also loved how he presented is Ph.D. in Social Studies (No Less!) as the greatest achievement of his life; after Ph.D. in Education,which is so easy that even Bill Cosby, a comedian, got one, Social Studies is a ridiculous concoction of disjointed left wing musings by the polictically correct imbecilies.
The problems with our Education could be summed in one acronym: HSTA. Eliminate HSTA and CBA and within a year Hawaii will move out of the basement of academic achievement - leave it alone, or "reform" it and our keiki will never learn the 3 R's. Simple as that.
The Union hacks are killing our education.
January 14th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Maxcat, my understanding was that Abercrombie said he wanted to be here full-time to help lead the discussion on these pressing matters.
January 14th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Predictable Scott Goold still blames "us" (in bold letters!). How convenient. I also loved how he presented is Ph.D. in Social Studies (No Less!) as the greatest achievement of his life; after all Ph.D. in Education, which is so easy to get that even Bill Cosby, a comedian, got one. Social Studies is a ridiculous concoction of disjointed left wing musings by the polictically correct imbecilies.
The problems with our Education could be summed in one acronym: HSTA. Eliminate HSTA and CBA and within a year Hawaii will move out of the basement of academic achievement - leave it alone, or "reform" it and our keiki will never learn the 3 R's. Simple as that.
The Union is killing our education.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:05 am
There's no future for kids in Hawaii. Just look at the present day adults. Look beyond the upper class and you'll find a bunch of disenchanted state workers and such who only count the day til their next holiday. Not much motivation for their kids. The class divide continues. Take a visit here to the mainland. Public schools are great, parents are involved, kids are active and motivated. It's a Hawaii thing and it ain't never gonna change.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:39 am
The fundamental structure of our schools is wrong! A state wide school district does not work. Until power is devolved to the community school districts, Hawaii's public education system will suffer.
Aloha,
Keahi
January 14th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Aloha GayPatriot ~
I realize there's not much chance of holding a civil discussion with you ... such is life around America's Right. You are clearly the superior person. And you prove my point that the problem with public education is us - look how you write - poor spelling, bad grammar, unsolicited attacks on others. What filth!
If you had the ability to do research you would find public education across the nation is a highly unionized field. Since nearly ALL states have unions in public education, how is it possible that most of these unionized states are outperforming unionized Hawai'i in test scores?
Less immature people would therefore conclude unions cannot be the sole culprit for the lower proficiency scores of Hawai'i's Keiki.
And it is people like me, you know those polictically correct imbecilies [sic], who fight to ensure gay people are not murdered or beaten and have the freedom to live as they choose.
A*L*O*H*A
January 14th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Scott, that's a significant overgeneralization. There are PLENTY of public school districts on the mainland that are absolutely dismal, and worse off than even our worst school. Additionally, to say that adults that aren't upper class have no motivation is absurd.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:42 am
BTW, my comment was to "Scott," not Scott Goold.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Thanks Dave.
@Scott Goold good comments.
@GayPatriot. I don't think eliminating HSTA would solve the problem. There are many instances where dedicated HSTA reps are part of the solution and teachers need a voice. While HSTA may not always be a perfect voice I think without them life for teachers would be more difficult.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Reform will not come about by bureaucrats and professionals who, while often hard-working, essentially produce nothing. Obviously these folks are willing to perpetuate certifications, grades, and technocratic values.
In other words, we've become inverted, whereby centralized behemoth institutions are determining how we teach and learn.
The public needs to organize politically to create public schools advocating for Hawaii connecting and providing essential goods and services for its communities.
This local decision-making obviously won't be supported with federal education dollars, and teacher certification must go as it isn't relevant to competence.
Homeschooling anyone?
January 14th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Aloha Keahi ~
You surprise me ... A state wide school district does not work. Until power is devolved to the community school districts ...
This moves us from ONE costly superintendent and a full compliment of staff to FOUR administrative bodies. Talk about top heavy. And why would this deregulated control motivate our Keiki to study harder? I doubt they care.
A*L*O*H*A
January 14th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Earl, I said they were disenchanted, not without motivation. Maybe you're still bent on the fact that I rightly criticized Kaimuki H.S. for ranking poorly a few months ago? I worked for the state for a number of years and I am just speaking from my experience.
January 14th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Scot - your mom is just like you - not able to be accountable, always blaming someone or something else. Great teachers can overcome a poor system, but poor teachers cannot make a great system. You like to tout your educational and exprience credentials but your posting belie those achievements. Hot air carries no substance.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Scott,
Actually, I forgot about that, but since you brought it up, I guess it still sticks in your mind. Look dude, I don't want to get into any kind of pissing contest, but whatever you MEANT, it didn't come across that way, okay?
"Look beyond the upper class and you'll find a bunch of disenchanted state workers and such who only count the day til their next holiday. Not much motivation for their kids. The class divide continues."
I'm sure others will agree that it sounds like an overgeneralization that is actually rather insulting.
I'm just saying that's how it sounded. Not trying to pick a fight.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Well stated Earl. I stick by my p.o.v., but it's hard to communicate that on a blog. However, the class divide on Oahu is widening. As a Hawaii homeowner living on the mainland, I try to stay keen to these topics. I respect your response. Until tomorrow.....
January 14th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Earl & Scott-
I can see where both of you are coming from. Scott does seem to paint with a broad brush, but I agree that there is a significant portion of the local population who wholeheartedly advocate to their children that the best future for them is to get a government job and coast for 40 years. I think that this proportion is bigger here than on the mainland (from having lived here and there for many years).
On the other hand, I don't think that you should make the mainland seem like paradise, Scott. There are lots of slackers there as well. You may not interact with them much, but they are there.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
The solution is rather simple and is all around us in Hawaii. Want to see the answer? Go to 6th & Waialae. On the makai side are two parochial schools, Sacred Hearts and St. Patrick with a tuition around $8k per year.
On the mauka side is Aliiolani, a public school that's part of a system that's near the bottom of the nation. The per-pupil budget is around $11k/year.
Any clear thinking parent that visits the parochial schools immediately sees they are heads and shoulders above Aliiolani. The economic condition of the parents between the two schools are about the same. The parents care about the same.
There's only one difference: One school is run by a centralized government that has no interest in children doing better, they are interested in furthering their government benefits.
The other school is driven by competition to do better. They can fire teachers at will and can swap out principals that don't perform. They are immediately accountable to the parents.
The answers are right in front of us. Give parents the right to choose the school their kids go to and have the $11k follow the child. Let schools compete.
January 15th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Aloha Kimo Hana ~
Good comments but let me ask a couple questions ... You wrote, "On the makai side are two parochial schools, Sacred Hearts and St. Patrick with a tuition around $8k per year."
How do these school handle Special Ed students?
Do they receive any additional money for facilities or long term costs? I suspect they do.
You also wrote, "Give parents the right to choose the school their kids go to and have the $11k follow the child. Let schools compete."
One advantage of private schools is they can "select" their student body. How do you educate the Keiki nobody wants?
A*L*O*H*A
January 15th, 2010 at 7:10 am
Scott, you're right that it's hard to communicate accurately like this. Glad we can both be civil. Well, let's see the next thing we can disagree on!
January 15th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Okay - I'll bite. What do the initials CBA mentioned in Scott's post above.
The schoolteachers with whom I work on a regular basis as part of my "day job" are hard-working & dedicated, but they're discouraged at what they see happening within the system; however, the reforms needed have to come from the top down.
I still support a state-wide funding system, but I think that the administrative aspects of running the schools need to be re-examined.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Whoops!!! What do the initials CBA mean?
January 15th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Please add the word "mean" to my question in the first paragraph. The blog monitor would not let me re-port it because it perceives it as a duplicate comment.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I saw CBA in GayPatriot's post, and I'd guess it means collective bargaining agreement.
January 15th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
eliminate compulsory education. eliminate mandatory class attendance.don't punish parents and kids for not sending their children to government sanctioned schools(private/public).compulsory education is a scam.it only empowers the STATE to control what it thinks it is good for us.there are alternatives to "traditional" schooling.public education is child abuse.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
"Kimo Hana:
January 14th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
The solution is rather simple and is all around us in Hawaii. Want to see the answer? Go to 6th & Waialae. On the makai side are two parochial schools, Sacred Hearts and St. Patrick with a tuition around $8k per year."
What kind of pay and benefits do the sisters get for teaching at these two schools? Do they take special ed kids? Or kids who are blind? Or who don't speak a word of English?
Do they have an endowment like Punahou? Can a child whose parents are below the poverty level go there? Does the school provide free or reduced lunches/breakfasts for these children? How about subsidized bus transportation? Are these children subjected to high stakes national tests required under NCLB?
Just askin'.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
To Scott & Charles:
The sisters predominantly don't teach at these schools. They are staffed by professional lay faculty that choose to work there instead of union-controlled public schools.
And for where the special needs kids will go, they will go to schools that tend to special needs. In a free market economy, if there is a need, it will be filled.
And there's nothing wrong with, giving these special needs kids extra voucher money to pay for the extra costs they incur. The market will respond. As it always does.