08-25-2009, 12:40 PM
My intention was to point out that I have worked with a mix of minorities in urban, gang-infested schools who held an overall greater respect for life than the kids in Puna schools.
An example.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx...712a73408c
Saying that racism exists everywhere and ultimately it builds character does not nullify the ugliness that occurs every single day in Puna schools (Hilo is a different world).
We know where it comes from.
Many children are lost in the cracks before they ever even get a chance to float to the top. We don't have the data on how far a kid would have come if he wasn't beaten to a pulp with brass knuckles while the other kids made a circle to prolong administration from stepping in. That's pretty hard to "get over."
Keaau library is on the public middle school campus. Take a little field trip there for empirical evidence when the kids are outside before school or during recess.
An example.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx...712a73408c
Saying that racism exists everywhere and ultimately it builds character does not nullify the ugliness that occurs every single day in Puna schools (Hilo is a different world).
We know where it comes from.
Many children are lost in the cracks before they ever even get a chance to float to the top. We don't have the data on how far a kid would have come if he wasn't beaten to a pulp with brass knuckles while the other kids made a circle to prolong administration from stepping in. That's pretty hard to "get over."
Keaau library is on the public middle school campus. Take a little field trip there for empirical evidence when the kids are outside before school or during recess.