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Gathering Place
Robert A. Fox |
Let voters decide
whether to split up
single school districtShould the state of Hawaii keep a single, statewide school district, or decentralize into several (the number I keep hearing is seven) districts governed by separate school boards? That is the question Governor Lingle wants voters to answer by passing a constitutional amendment in the fall elections.
There has certainly been much television and newspaper coverage on this issue. How is a concerned citizen supposed to follow all the claims and counterclaims? Obviously, we want to do what is right for the children of Hawaii, but what is right?
As a former Board of Education member, I have had a better chance than most to observe our state system in action and I'd like to share some of my conclusions.
>> 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 the answer to improving the school system, it's not really available to us.
>> Second, we need to stop playing the blame game. The same children, parents, teachers, unions, government and education officers will be in the education system whether we have one BOE or one million. Nothing is to be gained by pointing fingers. It doesn't matter who is at fault for our unsatisfactory education perform- ance. It's enough to accept that we need to improve ... we need to improve.
I hate to use 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 be only 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 had to deal with seven boards, rather than one. 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 for education 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 of the University of Hawaii Charter School Resource Center, served on the Hawaii state Board of Education from 1992 to 1996.