Obama Addresses Students of America

President Barack Obama, the controversy of his address to U.S. school children ebbing, told a class at a Virginia high school today that parents and teachers can't force them to learn."If you are hungry for learning, you will find teachers who want to help you," Obama told 9th graders at Wakefield High School in Arlington, a suburb of Washington, before giving a separate address that was available to schools nationwide.

--Honolulu Advertiser

This is exactly true. Students must have the desire to learn. Teachers can support them; parents can support them; but students themselves must crave knowledge. Success will only come after hard work, never before. Students must put their best efforts into their work, for it is then that their parents and teachers can fully support them. Education will not only play a key part in the future of the United States but also its ability to solve problems and move forward.

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Libraries Need Donations to Prevent Closures

Faced with a $6 million budget cut, the state public library system will be asking library users, corporations and foundations to donate whatever they can to prevent major cutbacks at the state's 51 libraries. The fundraising effort, "Keep Your Library Open!," is set to be announced this morning by the Hawaii State Public Library System and the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i. Each entity will conduct its own fundraising drive, and the combined effort is intended to ensure that no library will be closed permanently because of projected budget shortfalls.

--Honolulu Advertiser

Finally, some intelligent ideas... If Hawaii's citizens truly want the libraries to stay open, they will donate in some form or another. Libraries are like the polish to a good education; it really allows students to shine. The plan is to raise $3 million by getting 1 million library users to donate $3 dollars each. $3 per person is a reasonable amount, and I have faith in the people of hawaii that they will get this done.

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DOE Seeks New Level of Authority

Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto says she intends to again seek the authority to replace the principals, most teachers and other staffers at public schools that have consistently failed to meet federal No Child Left Behind requirements in light of a push by President Obama's administration for school districts to turn around the lowest-achieving public schools.

--Honolulu Advertiser

I firmly believe that this is not the solution. Teacher's cannot control their students. They may be able to encourage and support their students, but cannot control them. Students decide that on their own. Teacher's and principals should not be liable for the students' level of commitment. They should do all that they can, but should that fail, they should not be at fault. But if the teachers simply do not try hard enough, then Hamamoto should be given the authority to replace teachers. If, and only if.

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+50% Highschool Grads, College

A recent study by the P-20 Initiative College observes that over half (51%) of high school grads in Hawaii will attend colleges with about a third going out for 4-year degrees. The study comes as a real wake-up call for most:

For decades, the state had been unable to accurately track the number of public school graduates who entered a university or college. The Hawai'i P-20 Initiative's College and Career Indicators Report, released this week, is the first report of its kind to take nationwide college enrollment data, along with several other college readiness statistics, and break it down school-by-school.

--Honolulu Advertiser

Eventually, I hope that college-level prerequisite and introductory material will be taught in high schools to better prepare their students in anticipation for college. But for now, it is the duty of the teachers and parents to make college an expectation from a young age.

The three things I consider to be the most important for the future of Hawaii are a) education, b) economy, and c) sustainability and the advancement of green technology. Education is at the top of my list. 51% is unacceptable.

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Rising Enrollment, Less Availability

As the last group of UH-Manoa students — mostly incoming freshmen — began registering last week, college deans and department chairs were forced to increase class sizes and find instructors to teach additional class sections to prevent students from being shut out of high-demand prerequisite courses.

--Honolulu Advertiser

With enrollment for the University of Hawaii on the rise, many classes are forced to take in more students as the UH searches for more teachers to instruct the additional classes needed. The state cut $76 million from the school's budget for this year despite enrollment up 10%. Community colleges faced an even great 15% rise in enrollment. Education is the path to success and the state is denying students the possibility, the right, to it.

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66% Fail No Child Left Behind

Although test results this year for nearly all grades improved, 66% of all Hawaii schools missed the progress goals prescribed in the No Child Left Behind Law. 187 schools did not pass AYP compared to the 97 (34%) that did pass. This is down from the 42% last year. Principals also worry that because of budget cuts, many schools could face even lower results this coming year.

However, NCLB standards are rising so the numbers do not tell the whole story. The original 39% reading proficiency has risen to 65% and the original 19% math proficiency has risen to 44%, both dramatic increases.

The NCLB standards will continue to rise until 2014 when the goal is to have 100% of students demonstrate high skill level.

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