09-25-2009, 06:46 AM
Prior to the furloughs Hawaii had the standard 180 day schedule, minus a handful of teacher work days and in service training days (which are mostly the result of federal mandates due to No Child Left Behind) which most states have. The days off and vacations are distributed a little differently here. Surprisingly, there is no federally mandated number of instruction days.
However, I would happily settle for my students' parents sending their kids to school for more than 2/3 of the scheduled instruction days. I had never seen such a casual attitude towards attendance as I have encountered at every school I've taught at in Hawaii. Parents keep their kids out of school to babysit younger siblings and cousins, go hunting or fishing, visit family, go to Oahu to shop, or just because they feel like it. Teachers can't teach kids who aren't in school, and make up work is generally reading and writing based, while in class activities are multi-sensory and are designed to work with multiple learning styles. The attitude about attendance reflects a real lack of valuing education on the part of many parents, and sends the message to their kids that school is an unpleasant chore to be avoided at all costs. The furloughs reflect that same attitude, just from the government instead of the parents. Remember, Lingle first wanted 36 furlough days for all government employees, including educators.
Carol
However, I would happily settle for my students' parents sending their kids to school for more than 2/3 of the scheduled instruction days. I had never seen such a casual attitude towards attendance as I have encountered at every school I've taught at in Hawaii. Parents keep their kids out of school to babysit younger siblings and cousins, go hunting or fishing, visit family, go to Oahu to shop, or just because they feel like it. Teachers can't teach kids who aren't in school, and make up work is generally reading and writing based, while in class activities are multi-sensory and are designed to work with multiple learning styles. The attitude about attendance reflects a real lack of valuing education on the part of many parents, and sends the message to their kids that school is an unpleasant chore to be avoided at all costs. The furloughs reflect that same attitude, just from the government instead of the parents. Remember, Lingle first wanted 36 furlough days for all government employees, including educators.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb