Some teachers
protest HSTA
endorsements

The union's backing of
Cayetano and its stand on same-
sex rile members

By Debra Barayuga and Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

As general election races heat up, so does political activism in the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Teachers across the state are off one day from school this week for Teachers Institute Day workshops, and some are using it to protest the HSTA's endorsements in the Nov. 3 election.

The HSTA board of directors last month decided to endorse Gov. Ben Cayetano over Maui Mayor Linda Lingle in the gubernatorial race and oppose a proposed state constitutional amendment that could prohibit same-sex marriage. The HSTA believes the amendment is a civil rights issue and isn't taking a position on gay marriage.

Some teachers at King Kamehameha III on Maui have announced they will support Lingle in the gubernatorial race. And last week, some Waimea Canyon Elementary teachers were unhappy with the board's endorsement of a "no" vote on the same-sex marriage issue.

At yesterday's workshops at Maui High School, more than a dozen teachers wore blue Lingle T-shirts to protest the union's endorsement of Cayetano.

The teachers criticized union leaders for refusing to publicize the results of a teachers survey about gubernatorial candidates earlier this year.

Some teachers said they were displeased with Cayetano for extending teachers' work year by seven days and for his lack of support for special education.

"The support is so poor, it's in the courts now. If Lingle can do better, go for it," said Marc Wimberley, a special-education teacher at Kalama Intermediate School.

Sandra Matsui, a resource teacher not wearing a Lingle T-shirt, said she supported Cayetano because he seemed to conduct himself ethically and have a better understanding of statewide issues.

Beverly Gotelli, a union director and teacher at Lokelani Intermediate School, said the survey was a "snapshot" of teachers' opinions and only a part of the evaluation.

Gotelli said that during labor negotiations, the state Board of Education wanted to extend the work time by 10 days without pay and that Cayetano instead offered the addition of seven days with pay.

The teachers' discontent shows something is wrong with the way decisions are made at the top, said Matt Taba, a fifth-year physical education teacher at Waimea Canyon Elementary who opposes same-sex marriage. "They're supposed to represent the members and how we feel, not represent themselves."

He said teachers against same-sex marriage are more upset, however, that the union took a stand on the same-sex marriage issue without polling the teachers.

Members are within their rights to express their opinions, said Danielle Lum, HSTA spokeswoman. "We've never been about censorship, and we're definitely open to hearing their input."

The board of directors in good faith received the recommendations of the union's political action committee, analyzed the information and made a thoughtful decision, Lum said.

No matter how hard it tries, the board won't please 100 percent of its members, Lum said.