Middle schoolers need attention, too

Hawaii has been ahead of other states for years in providing supervised after-school programs, so it is unfortunate that intermediate and middle school students have been left out.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has launched a long-overdue framework to fill that void through community involvement and private donations, welcomed as necessary by the state Department of Education.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano reminded us in last year’s mayoral campaign that, as lieutenant governor in 1990, he conceived and implemented the A-Plus After-School Program, which has served as many as 29,000 public elementary school children yearly and continues to get high ratings.

High school students, much more independent, are drawn to after-school sports practice and other organized activities.

"Hawaii is ahead of the pack on after-school and can be proud of that," said Jode Grant, executive director of the nonprofit Afterschool Alliance.

However, she pointed out that one-third of Hawaii’s public schoolchildren are on their own in the afternoons, while 12 percent are in the care of their brothers or sisters.

In its most recent survey, the alliance rated Hawaii among the top 10 states in 2009, even though enrollment had dropped to 28 percent from 35 percent; the national enrollment was 15 percent.

The parents of 39 percent of children not already in after-school said they would enroll them in a program if one were available.

Hawaii’s public school system has focused on after-school programs at the elementary and high school levels, resulting in "sporadic and decentralized" programs in grades 6 through 8, Tsutsui said in a news release. With the help of private donors, the state Department of Education introduced several after-school sports programs for boys and girls last fall at several campuses.

That’s a promising start, and concerted efforts to build from there to develop enriching and engaging activities should be encouraged.

Tsutsui said the 6th through 8th grades will immediately start after-school programs in the general categories of sports, academic enrichment and arts and culture programs such as video production, Web design, ukulele, drama, debate, dance clubs, science, math and robotics. That is to include programs similar to those that have been successful at the high school level along with "exciting new programs that are currently being offered" at that grade level.

A survey cited by Afterschool Alliance found that of all Hawaii children not enrolled in after-school programs, 28 percent would be likely to participate if one were available to them. That is important, because quality programs keep children safe and inspire them to learn and help working families. On school days, the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are the peak time for juvenile crime and experimentation with alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and sex. Indeed, intermediate and middle schools are the level at which many schoolchildren make choices that have overwhelming effect on their decisions through adulthood.

Success of the program at that stage is important for these youngsters and the community.