This ain’t the Mainland. At least that’s what the iconic bumper sticker says. Many who live on Maui feel somewhat isolated from the tragic gun violence on the US Continent. But the reality is, with the rise of active gun attacks across the United States, we have to be prepared for violence and the unimaginable […]
Department of Education to Review Teacher Pay, Seeks Public Input
Teachers provide a foundation for our youth through constant dedication in and before class, and long after students head home. There’s material to prepare, grading to complete, creative teaching methods to explore, research to stay on top of, and a rapidly evolving school environment to continuously adapt to. It’s a great responsibility that often comes […]
Hawai‘i Department of Education Seeks Public Feedback on ‘2030 Promise Plan’
Children are our future – it’s a well-known truth – and culturally relevant and location-based education strategies can help students lead better lives and make an impact on society. Hawai‘i’s public school system has been steadily evolving in order to keep up with the current trends, new technologies, and an increasing volume of information. The […]
Public Schools Offering Free Lunch Over the Summer
Being that I loathed school lunch as a kid (OK, only sometimes – not gonna lie, the kalua pork and baked spaghetti were bomb), I never thought there’d be a day where I was appreciative of school meals, but here we are. With all that’s been in the news regarding school lunch debt and children […]
Who Cares About Climate Change? Apathy is rampant, but not for these 7th-graders who ask, “Why go to school if we don’t have a future at all?”
As I was working on our annual Green Issue last month I became aware of a recent Pew Research Center survey about the US’s future. One particular question caught my attention. It asked respondents how worried they are about climate change when thinking about the country’s future. The results, at least to this Earth-dwelling citizen, […]
Constitutional Amendment in the Coconut Poll
Discussion 10/26/2018: Would you vote for a constitutional amendment to allow the state legislature the power to tax properties in order to support public education? This week we talked about how the Hawai‘i Supreme Court invalidated the ballot question for a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the state to apply a surcharge to investment property […]
Funding Our Keiki’s Future: Is a constitutional amendment the answer?
This election, voters will have the chance to amend the state constitution. The ballot question, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?” has been the subject of heated debate. If the majority of votes cast and tallied for […]
Quizunderstood: How well do you know Hawaii’s involvement in the FBI Rap Back program?
1. On June 23, Governor David Ige signed SB 2954, which authorized county police departments to send firearms registrants to the FBI’s “Rap Back” criminal record monitoring service. How many other states participate in the program? A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3 E. 4 2. The State of Hawaii’s $100 million plan to […]