10-13-2009, 08:54 AM
While I understand the anxiety and frustration parents must feel, I agree with Seeb that the "solution" to the financial deficit put through by the DOE and the union was a set-up to extract revenue (tax increase) to maintain a very dysfuntional status quo. If one looks at the Hawaii schools' history, one quickly sees that throwing more money at the problem of poor performance has not worked. Making no gestures toward eliminating administrative positions and leaving at least six paid, non-teaching days in the schedule while cutting class time does not suggest serious reform OR economizing.
The union through their proxy, the NEA, spent over $300,000 to defeat the Constitutional Convention proposition on the last state-wide ballot. What does that tell you about their intentions? Only a top to bottom reform with more local control will change things. Meanwhile, they expect us to put more money into a failed enterprise, and they see the Charter Schools as a threat when they are about the only bright spot in the whole picture. Enough already!
The union through their proxy, the NEA, spent over $300,000 to defeat the Constitutional Convention proposition on the last state-wide ballot. What does that tell you about their intentions? Only a top to bottom reform with more local control will change things. Meanwhile, they expect us to put more money into a failed enterprise, and they see the Charter Schools as a threat when they are about the only bright spot in the whole picture. Enough already!