Posted on: Friday, November 9, 2001
Island Voices
Here are seven initiatives to reform education
By D. Perry Alexander
Public elementary school teacher from Kailua
The Honolulu Advertiser has challenged Hawai'i to invoke a Marshall Plan for our public schools. I couldn't agree more with a concept of revolutionizing our public school infrastructure to effectively meet the needs and wants of our students.
Indeed, it will take "true commitment" and an "iron will" from everyone to help ensure that changes in governance and true accountability be established in our public schools. Here are seven initiatives I believe would serve as a catalyst for effective educational reform:
• A yearly fiscal and management audit of the Department of Education conducted by state Auditor Marion Higa. Assign her the task of tracking where every penny of the DOE budget goes.
• A federal audit of all funds received by the state ear-marked for education.
• A management audit of school facilities conducted by a reputable, outside firm to help assure that each school is allotted the proper provisions and resources.
• An unabridged publication of all audits to the media that would align audits with fiscal accountability.
• County school districts, each with its own elected board, each with a mandate to develop a statewide academic curriculum.
• All public school students tested rigorously and consistently each year based on concise academic standards. The resulting evaluation standard would be used to assess schools and hold administrators, teachers, students and parents accountable for what is being taught.
• Students exhibiting chronic disruptive behavior in school, from incessant unexcused absences and tardies to consistent insubordination and violent behavior, would be promptly placed in an alternative learning environment for a period of no less than one year. No one has the right to prevent someone else from learning.
We have two things that we have going for our state public schools. We have dedicated teachers who persevere through a lack of support and resources because we are truly committed to the children we teach and to our chosen profession. We also have a large number of bright and capable kids who continue to reach for the stars even under these trying times.
