ON CAMPUS

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

Mary Ester Correa calls her students her "sweetiepies."

But the Wai'anae High teacher has less kind words to describe public officials.

Correa, a Spanish teacher who has worked in the Department of Education for more than 20 years, can't buy enough textbooks for her students, has roaches and ants in her classroom and sweats all day long because there's no air conditioning.

She's more than a little tired of it.

"I'm hoping the next governor will take notice," Correa said. "I've been in the system over 20 years and nothing has happened. Our kids should come first. Everyone says our kids are our first priority. They're not."

To no avail, she has called her public officials to complain that schools do not have air conditioning. It's a common complaint from teachers across the state, especially now that many campuses have switched to a modified, year-round calendar. Year-round school means that students retain more information on their shorter summer breaks, but it also puts students in the classroom in June, July and August.

On the Leeward Coast and at other schools that don't feel the trade winds, the classrooms can be unbearable.

But it's hard to convince legislators that this makes for a poor learning environment when they're sitting in the comfort of air-conditioned offices all day.

"It's so hot," Correa said. "I'm so exhausted at the end of the day. What do you think it does to our kids? They come into my classroom sweating. We're trying to teach the next leaders of our state and they get little or next to nothing."

Correa has fans in her room, but most of them are broken.

She has found rat droppings in her classroom.

She can buy one classroom set of Spanish textbooks per year for her students, but doesn't have enough textbooks to give each teen one to take home and study.

"We're only allowed to purchase a classroom set per year," Correa said. "At least four or five years ago I was able to order textbooks. I think we're going backwards."

Correa wants to stay in teaching several more years, but thinks she may retire earlier than she had planned. She said she feels frustrated that she hasn't been able to do anything to change the system.

"I'm going to get out," she said.

The Hawai'i State Teachers Association has asked voters to think about education when they go to the polls or attend a candidate forum.

Ironically, even though polls show voters believe education is one of the most important issues of this year's campaign, the HSTA has said it will not endorse any gubernatorial candidate.

Correa, meanwhile, said she has grown tired of the rhetoric politicians spout at election time because it never results in anything for the schools.

Correa said her students at Wai'anae High and others in rural areas need the most help from the state.

But she worries that the students at Wai'anae have been forgotten, that they're easily overlooked because they're out in the country.

Judging by the conditions she teaches in, she's right.

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.