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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 21, 2002

Educators critical of GOP ad on schools

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

A handful of prominent public school educators and several top students asked the Republican Party yesterday to yank a radio ad that says Hawai'i residents have lost faith in public schools.

The ad features former San Diego Chargers football player Leo Goeas saying he and his wife "have lost any faith in Hawai'i's public school system, just like you," and that he had chosen to home school his children or put them in private school and support Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle.

Republican Party Chairman Micah Kane, insisting that the ad reflects the concerns of Hawai'i residents, said yesterday the party not only would keep the ad, but follow up with more.

University of Hawai'i freshman Andrew Ogata, who graduated from Konawaena High School with a 3.8 grade-point average, said yesterday the ad might cause younger students to stop trying, because an athletic hero feels their schools are "junk."

Ogata was among several students at a Capitol press conference along with Farrington High School Principal Catherine Payne; Keolu Elementary School teacher Elly Tepper, 2000 State Teacher of the Year; Kailua High science teacher Derek Minakami, 2001 State Teacher of the Year; state educational officer Estelle Wong; and Kahuku High and Intermediate School Principal Lisa DeLong.

Minakami said blanket statements such as Goeas' ignore excellence among students and teachers and serve only to demoralize both. In fact, he said, polls show a majority of Hawai'i residents have faith in their public schools despite relatively low average performance of students in national math and English tests.

Ogata said public schools here are competitive in many areas, citing Konawaena's current lead over private Hawaii Preparatory Academy in math team competition.

Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.


Correction: Former professional football player Leo Goeas said in a Republican Party radio advertisement that he had chosen to home school his children or put them in private school. A previous version of this story contained incorrect information.