Together we can achieve good education results

Much has been written in the Star-Advertiser about Hawaii’s failing public education and the need for greater teacher accountability. One need only read the comments to the online edition articles on the recent Hawaii State Teachers Association contract negotiations to understand how widespread the rancor is toward teachers, the HSTA and state Department of Education.

In my 25 years teaching in the Kahuku Complex, I have worked with many extraordinarily talented, hardworking teachers and have witnessed the resulting achievement of hundreds of students at all ability levels. A successful education involves the partnership of student, teacher, parent and community. When each does their part well, students often exceed expectations.

Many Kahuku students have gone on to excel at high-ranking universities and succeeded in business, athletics and music, and credit their achievement to instruction from a "failing public school." Not enough is written about these remarkable teachers, their students’ accomplishments or the community members who give generously to support this.

There are systemic problems in our educational system. No Child Left Behind provides scientifically based teaching strategies that ensure students meet minimum standards, but also it implicitly deprioritizes efforts to encourage high achievement beyond the standards, or outstanding scholarship. Tacit evidence of this devaluation is in funding cuts to two of the most rigorous and inspiring programs generating academic excellence: "We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution," which promotes civic responsibility and leadership; and National History Day, the first K-12 program to be honored with the National Humanities Medal.

An example of an extraordinary teacher helping students achieve in remarkable ways is Jan Harney. Harney’s Kahuku students took first place at the state "We the People" competition this year, qualifying to compete nationally. But federal funding for this program was cut in 2011, so the students had to work a tremendous number of hours to obtain funding to travel to D.C. and represent Hawaii. Harney and her students cleaned the stadium after football games, put on a 5K run, sold T-shirts, crafts and plate lunches, and even held a car wash. They also were given a $7,500 grant from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, as well as smaller grants from the community. At the national competition, the Kahuku team placed in the top half of the nation, higher than any Hawaii team has placed since 2006.

This spring, 13 Kahuku Complex students represented Hawaii at National History Day. Due to budget cuts, they received no federal assistance for travel and lodging expenses for the first time in 20 years. Several requests for donations were made of private foundations and local business, but none were honored this year.

I am concerned about the waning support for programs that promote academic excellence and the misconception that public school students in Hawaii do not achieve at levels equal to the highest accomplishments of students throughout our nation.

Let’s honor and encourage high achievement to prepare students for 21st-century careers and citizenship and to become astute global leaders.