Children's involvement in dispute raises concern

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Student participation in the dispute between the state and public school teachers had been generally limited before today's strike, but some say keeping schoolchildren from becoming pawns in the conflict is cause for concern.

More than 100 students at Ma'ema'e Elementary School signed a banner calling for support for Hawai'i teachers in their demands for higher pay. Sixth-graders delivered the banner to Gov. Ben Cayetano's office. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Children have always been used because the image of a child, of course, is much more persuasive than the image of an adult," she said. "It's a very persuasive technique. There is, of course, always an ethical question in the way that the child is portrayed.

"If they're put up to it by somebody, then that's an ethical question. If the child, however, feels strongly about an issue, I think they have as much of a right to an opinion as anyone else. So it depends. Are they being put on stage or are they being allowed to express themselves? And I think that's very hard to determine."

As negotiations heated between the state and the Hawai'i State Teachers Association in recent weeks, some students wrote letters and waved signs saying teachers deserve more pay. Ma'ema'e School sixth-graders were taken to Gov. Ben Cayetano's office with a banner signed by more than 100 students reading: "Dear Governor Cayetano, Please support Hawai'i's teachers."

Jim Wang, a retired political science professor at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, said he has no qualms about high school or college students participating in activities in support of certain causes. But young children would be another matter, he said.

"I think in the first place somebody must have convinced them to go out in support of their teachers," he said. "If they voluntarily (participate) on their own, fine, but if someone coaxed them into it, I have reservations about that.

"Generally speaking, to get children involved in a highly conflictive and emotional (situation), I'm not so sure that's a good thing to do. I have my doubts. I raise the question of propriety to use them for that purpose."

Ma'ema'e School principal Beatrice Zane said student government members decided on their own to make a banner supporting teachers as part of a series of school spirit activities. The banner was put up on campus so students could write notes or sign the banner if they wanted, she said.

Zane also said that the student government officers asked her to take them to the State Capitol so they could talk with the governor and that their parents gave the school their permission.

"Students know more than we think they do," she said. "It's just that they may not be likely to express themselves. They understand a lot. ... I think the main message is that young students can understand concepts and they can see the differences. They can be analytical too."

Hawai'i Parent Teacher Student Association president John Friedman said he hasn't noticed worrisome situations where children may be used to advocate a certain position but that "we certainly hope that we can keep children out of it."

"There may be a temptation to use children to advocate for one side or the other, but it's really important that we let the children know that the strike is not their fault."

Friedman said parents need to make their own decisions as to whether their children would be involved in the matter, whether it be waving signs or writing letters.

"I think it's difficult because students want to show support for their teacher ... but at the same time we would ask parents to think long and hard about what's best for their child," he said. "These are very, very complex issues that younger children in particular may not understand and to ask them to advocate for one side without complete knowledge of the issues is not fair to them."

Varner said she hasn't seen examples where it appears children have been used to represent a side in the teacher-state controversy. But it may happen, she said.

"I'll be quite honest, as an educator myself, I'm very glad to see the children expressing their opinions and whether they do that in writing or on television or holding a sign on a street corner," she said, "I'm very glad to see them participating in the discussion and I think that should be encouraged."

Hawai'i State Teachers Association executive director Joan Husted said there is no union effort to use children in their public campaign.

"We don't expect to organize kids on informational picketing," she said. "We don't want to use them to carry our propaganda message to anybody unless it's okay with the parent. As adults the teachers are perfectly capable of carrying their own message. We appreciate the support, but we're not in the business of using kids, we're in the business of fighting for kids."

Husted said some teachers have asked union officials if they could send students home with union brochures for their parents, "and our answer is always no."

"We've been very consistent with that message for 30 years," she said.