Globe-trotting teen surfers weigh home schooling
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Surfing's "new school" is being educated through various schools of thought.
Bernie Baker • Special to The Honolulu Advertiser
Home school, public school or private school?
Sena Seramur chose home schooling because her commute to Kapa‘a High was taking two hours a day. “I’m learning so much more, and faster, too,” she says.
That choice has become increasingly difficult for teenage surfers, often referred to as the new school of competitors, and their parents in recent years.
In today's exposure-is-everything surfing world, most competitors — yes, even teenagers — are expected to travel around the world throughout the year to enter contests. Because of that, home school has become a tempting option.
"Personally, I'd rather see a kid go to regular school," said David Riddle, a local surfing coach and manager. "There are certain social skills you can only develop in school with teachers and classmates and through school functions.
"But in certain circumstances, it is better for some kids to be home-schooled."
It is an ongoing debate, with positive and negative aspects on each side.
Among the benefits for public- and private-school students are more social activities, like proms, pep rallies and athletic events.
Home-schoolers have the advantages of surfing during the day and being able to travel during the year without the interference of a mandated school schedule.
"Home school is good if the kid has the talent," said Wendell Aoki, director of the Hawai'i Amateur Surfing Association. "But the majority of the parents believe that regular school is better for the kids in the long run. The thing to remember is that only a handful of these kids make it as professionals."
According to Linda Robb, co-director of the Hawai'i Region of the National Scholastic Surfing Association, "10 to 15 percent" of the 200 or so Hawai'i competitors are home-schooled. A smaller percentage attend private schools.
"It's a very difficult choice for parents," Robb said. "You need to look at all the circumstances and decide what's best. This is a child's education we're talking about. That should always be first priority."
Her son, Kalani, spent his sophomore, junior and senior years of high school as a home-school student, and is now a successful professional on surfing's world tour. Still, she cautioned "home school is not for everybody."
"Some parents go into a home-school program believing that it will help their kid join the pro ranks," Robb said. "That is very misleading."
What's more, there is little evidence to support that a home-school student will become a better competitive surfer than a regular-school student.
As Aoki put it: "Without knowing beforehand, I couldn't tell you who's in home school and who's in regular school based on just their surfing. The talent is going to be there no matter what school the kid goes to."
Here are five examples:
• • •
Joel Centeio, 18, recent Campbell High graduate
 |
| Joel Centeio graduated from Campbell High and still found time to win national and world surfing titles.
Bernie Baker • Special to The Honolulu Advertiser |
He recently graduated from Campbell and began surfing in professional contests.
"If I had to do it over again, I would do it the same way," said his mother, Jana. "I believe that interaction with friends and teachers is part of the experience."
Since the beginning of his junior year, Centeio has been one of the top-ranked high school surfers in the world. He has traveled to Brazil, France, Australia and several other countries. All the while, he has maintained a grade point average above 2.0.
"He did miss a lot of class time, and that was difficult," Jana said. "But he seemed concerned about making sure he would pass every class. That almost fueled his desire. We never really had to get on him about keeping up his school work when he was traveling because he knew he had to do it."
Sympathetic teachers made Joel write reports about his traveling experiences. Others gave him homework to take on trips. It helped that Jana, a teacher at Leilehua High, provided tutorial assistance when needed.
Despite his success, Centeio had to reject several trips over the last two years for school-related reasons. Last year, he turned down an all-expenses-paid trip to Bali so he could attend his junior prom.
"If you prioritize things, you can get through public school and surf, too," Jana said. "We're very proud of the way Joel did it."
• • •
Kekoa Bacalso, 15, Mililani High sophomore
With two more full years of high school remaining, Bacalso is already one of the state's most-coveted young surfers.
His sponsors have recently suggested home-schooling to accommodate what is expected to be a hectic travel schedule during his junior and senior years. His parents want none of it.
"He's definitely going to stay at Mililani," said his father, Tony. "I don't want him to miss out on any social activities because of surfing. I don't want him to know just surfers."
The Bacalsos already have a plan that includes rejecting many travel opportunities during the school year.
"We'll choose the best ones for him," Tony said. "We want him to travel and keep up to the level of the other surfers. But we also want him to stay and keep up with his grades, also."
• • •
Nathan Carroll, 16, home-school sophomore
Carroll has been home-schooled by his parents at their North Shore home since he was in kindergarten. He has never had any classmates. He is also the state's top-ranked 16-year-old surfer.
"A lot of people think if you're a home-schooler, you get to surf all day," said his father, Tim. "That's not true. Basically, if he doesn't do his school work, he doesn't surf."
Like other home-school students across the nation, Carroll is given a set of textbooks and workbooks in basic subjects (math, history, English, etc.). In essence, he is required to read the textbook, then complete the tests in the workbook. Periodically, he must mail his completed work to the office of the home school, where it is then graded.
Home-schoolers can work at their own pace, although every textbook must be completed from start to finish in order to pass. Some complete an entire year's worth of work in six months. Others take longer than one year.
Because he took several surfing trips during this school year, Carroll's sophomore year will extend into the summer. "There's a trade-off," said Tim. "The other kids are going on summer trips, but he's still in school."
While in Hawai'i, Carroll has found a way to balance school work and surf sessions. When the waves are up, he studies early in the morning and at night. When the waves are down, he puts in extra study time.
"I love the home school," he said. "I get to surf so much more because of it."
Tim Carroll estimated that it costs less than $300 per year to put Nathan through the Christian Education Institute home-school program.
"It's certainly helped his surfing, but that's not why we put him in it," said Tim. "We wanted to give him the best education possible, and we couldn't afford private school."
The friendships Nathan may be losing out on in a public school, he has made up for at surf meets. "Most of my friends go to Kahuku. Those are the guys I grew up with, so I still hang out with them," he said.
• • •
Daniel Jones, 17, recent Hawaiian Mission Academy graduate
Jones is a surfing rarity — a successful competitor who attended a private school.
His older siblings, sister Malia and brother Mikala, were both home-schooled through high school. Daniel never wanted to take that route, and recently graduated.
"I think Daniel enjoyed the experience of going to school," said his father, Dr. John Jones. "What's interesting is he has a close-knit group of friends and a lot of them don't surf."
Because of his school commitments, Jones did not travel nearly as much as his siblings did. Still, he has been no less successful. Last month, he earned a spot in the Billabong World Junior Championship. He will be one of only six surfers from Hawai'i in the contest, which will be held in Australia in November.
"He missed out on some trips he could have taken because of school," John said. "But he did his share of traveling."
John pointed out that his son took classes in pre-calculus and Japanese — courses not normally available through home school.
"I think home school was good for Malia and Mikala," John said. "But Daniel really is benefitting by finishing (at Hawaiian Mission Academy)."
• • •
Sena Seramur, 17, home-school junior
After struggling through her freshman and sophomore years at Kapa'a High, Seramur is flourishing in her first year as a home-school student.
"I'm learning so much more, and faster, too," she said.
While at Kapa'a, Seramur endured an hour-long ride from her parents' Hanalei home just to get to school every day. "I would pass the waves and think about surfing the whole day," she said. "Then it would take another hour to get back home."
Still, Seramur has been Hawai'i's most-decorated female high school surfer since she was a freshman. She is starting to compete against professionals in international contests.
"In her case, home school was the best way to go," said Riddle, her coach. "With her travel schedule and the logistical nightmare she had to go through to go to public school every day, home school made so much sense."
Although tutors are not required by most home schools (in most cases, parents serve as monitors), the Seramurs have hired one for Sena.
"It makes a huge difference," she said. "When you're one-on-one with a teacher, you learn the subject a lot better."
Seramur said she has become a better surfer because she can now practice in the middle of the day, before the late-afternoon crowds arrive.
"I'm practicing more, but I'm also studying more," she said. "I miss hanging out with some of my friends (at Kapa'a), but I'm a surf maniac. This was the best thing for me."
