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Public House takes on Education

Common Cause Hawaii and Manifest took full advantage of Leap Day 2016 to take on the complex issue of “Supporting Hawaii's Youth -- Tackling Education Issues Beyond Air Conditioning”.

Hosted by Eric Cordeiro with music by DJ The Forrest, the very knowledgeable panelists included: Patricia Halagao, Board of Education member; Representative Takashi Ohno, Hawaii State House member, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Education; and Buffy Cushman-Patz, School Leader and Founder of SEEQS: the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability, a public charter middle school in Kaimuki.

Photo: Panelists (L-R) Patricia Halagao, Buffy Cushman-Patz, Takashi Ohno.

After watching a short clip from John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight regarding standardized testing, the panelists dove right in and discussed the impact that federal programs such as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top has had on Hawaii, specifically the impact of standardized testing as required by these programs. The overall consensus was that while standardized testing is a necessary tool used to gauge students, it should not be educators’ main focus, and the number of these tests given to students should be minimal. Also, through new programs like the Every Student Succeeds Act teachers will once again be given more flexibility and autonomy, which is critical because as Buffy said, “aside from parents, teachers are the ones who best know what their kids (students) need”.

The panel also spoke about neighbor island systems, private schools, resources, and evaluations, among other things. The general consensus seemed to be that everyone—teachers, parents, community members, and even students —should make their voices heard.

Buffy spoke about the need to work with everyone and to look at each other as individuals and not institutions. It begins with community and we all have the same goal of providing quality education the children.

Takashi encouraged everyone to make their voices heard at the legislature. He spoke about how policy is influenced by the people, yet majority are not involved. If people i.e. teachers, parents, and advocates don’t make their voices heard, others will push their priorities and divert resources away from education.

Patricia also urged everyone to make their voices heard, not just at the legislature, but also at Board of Education meetings. The Board does listen to comments and testimony submitted by the public and as a result are working to empower schools and to give them the flexibility to do what is best for the community. Patricia also mentioned that in her November 15, 2015 OpEd piece in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, she broached the idea of increasing diversity and having a current educators (higher education and practicing teachers) represented on the BOE.

Common Cause Hawaii would like to thank everyone who joined us on Leap Day 2016. A special mahalo to our wonderful panelists: Buffy, Takashi, and Patricia who generously gave up their time and provided tons of insight and encouragement. We hope to see everyone at the next Public House on March 28, 6:30pm at Manifest as we tackle mental health support for Hawaii’s homeless.