By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

It's like that old comedy routine. Two teenagers are grumbling in that way-too-cool way. The first kid says, "Man, my mom is driving me crazy. She won't let me do anything, she treats me like I'm a baby, she wants to take control of my whole life and it's like she'll never let me grow up. She's totally nuts."

The second kid says, "Yeah, your mom is a real head case."

To which the first kid shoots back, "What did you say about my mother?!"

People have been bemoaning the state of Hawai'i's public schools for years. School teachers, students and their parents have been saying test scores are too low, resources are too scarce, bureaucratic snarls get in the way.

But now that the same sentiments are being used in political commercials, the reaction is, "What did you say about my school?!"

It's not so much the criticism that has touched a nerve, it seems, but who is doing the criticizing.

The reality is that Hawai'i's public schools have elements of good and bad and a great deal of in-between. There are many shining examples of excellence in teaching, student achievement, and parental and community involvement. There are also examples of failure. Repairs are neglected too long, teachers have to buy supplies out of their own pockets, too many kids slip through the cracks.

But when it comes down to it, talk is just talk. It's action that matters.

The public school educators and students who stood in opposition to the Republican Party ads are all about action. The group included top scholars, award-winning teachers and respected principals — people who certainly have the right to say, "Hey, wait a minute" to the statement that Hawai'i residents have lost faith in public schools.

At the same time, it is usually fruitless to argue with bombastic statements. There may be many problems in the public schools, but not every single person in this state has lost hope.

What is much more productive, for the schools and voters and those trying to win the upcoming election, is to speak in specifics instead of broad generalities. What are the problems that need to be addressed? What exactly needs to be done? Who is committed to take action?

Let's hear more of that, and less of "the schools are bad" on one side and "stop insulting the schools" on the other.

Mazie Hirono wants tuition reimbursement for teachers committed to working in Hawai'i schools and a cellular phone for every classroom. Linda Lingle wants to decentralize the Board of Education and issue debit cards to teachers for school supplies. That's specific. Let's hear more of that from everyone. Until there's action, let's talk about action and avoid talking about talk.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.