Should the state of Hawaii keep a single, statewide Board/Department of Education, or decentralize into several (the number I keep hearing is seven) district Boards/Departments of Education? There has certainly been a lot of TV and newspaper coverage on the issue. How is a concerned citizen supposed to follow all these claims and counterclaims? Obviously, we want to do what is right for the children of Hawaii, but what is right?
As a former elected member of the state BOE (1992-1996), I have had a better chance than most to observe our state system in action and I'd like to share some conclusions with you.
First, there is no question that Hawaii's education system is producing disappointing results. Everyone agrees on that. And everyone agrees that something must be done. We'd all like to put more money into the schools but, unless we're willing to increase taxes substantially, or profoundly decrease the government services to which we have become accustomed, there doesn't seem to be much extra money around. Even if that were an answer, it's not really available to us.
Second, we need to stop playing the blame game. The same children, parents, teachers, unions, government and educational officers will be in the educational system whether we have one BOE or 1 million. Nothing is to be gained by pointing fingers. It doesn't matter who is at fault for our unsatisfactory educational performance. It's enough that we need to improve ... we need to improve.
I hate to use what is becoming a cliché, but we need to start thinking outside the box. What I read is that the governor proposes to replace the current statewide BOE with seven district boards. That's replace, not add to. There would still only be one''' board for each district; it just wouldn't be the same board for everyone. As a resident of the Big Island, I'd welcome a local board whose members I knew and to whose meetings I could go without getting on an airplane.
It is undoubtedly true that things would be more complicated if the powers-that-be have to deal with seven, rather than one, boards. But every other state in the country seems to manage. In fact, in most states, different districts have different budgets, rules, union contracts, etc. What's the big deal? It's not like our single statewide system is doing such a great job. To be sure, people are uncomfortable with change. But it's change that we're talking about. If you don't want change, you're stuck with the status quo. And we don't want more of the same.
It's time that we face the fact that the current system isn't working FOR the children. It’s time for the BOE to get out of the way and let the teachers teach, the children learn and the money that we're paying get to the kids.
Even if you don't agree that this is the right way to go, how can anyone argue that the people of Hawaii are too ignorant to be allowed to make their own choice? I certainly didn't vote for my state representatives so that they could prevent me from having a say in one of the most important issues in the state. How dare they say that the issue is too complicated for the people? If we were smart enough to elect them to the House and the Senate, then aren't we smart enough to be allowed to vote on this proposal? I voted for them to serve me and my fellow citizens, not to rule us.
Put the issue on the ballot, let both sides argue it out in public, and let the people decide!
Robert A. Fox, Co-Director University of Hawaii Charter School Resource Center, can be reached via email at: mailto:rfox@hawaii.edu
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