Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 March 1984 — Hawaiian Childrens' Total Educational Needs Cited in Testimony for U.S. Kokua [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Childrens' Total Educational Needs Cited in Testimony for U.S. Kokua

"To raise the level of educational achievement among native Hawaiian children would require specialized educational programs beyond the standard mode offered in the Hawaii public schools." So concludes a report by two University of Hawaii educators as noted by OHA Trustee Gard Kealoha in personal testimony to the subcommittee on education, arts and humanities, U.S. Senate Commitee on Labor and Human Resources Mar. 22 in Washington, D.C. In his testimony, Kealoha explained that the report was prepared by Dr. James Mak, associate professor of eeonomics, and by Dr. Edwin T. Fujii, assistant professor of economics at UH. "This statement as well as other current data makes it imperative that the Hawaii Department of Education look at the total needs of Hawaiian children," Kealoha declared. He observed that "when statistical data shows that Hawaiian children in private schools score well above national norms on standarized tests, further investigation becomes necessary in determining why Hawaiian children learn better there." "Attention," he noted, "must be given to the possibility that children are being institutionalized for failure." Kealoha said that because of funding cutbacks imposed on the Department of Education by the Hawaii state legislature, "we areforced to look to our federal government to provide assistance in the aeademic and vocational areas." He added that trained personnel to provide instruction and counseling and incentive to encourage Hawaiian students

to choose educational careers so that they will be able to become role models "are extremely important if we are to make the drastic changes needed." Kealoha, who is also chairman of the OHA education subcommittee, said OHA supports the following premises: • Hawaiians should be included in all native American legislation. • Existing education laws should be expanded to include Hawaiian youth needs. • Current data and findings on Hawaiian children should be further utilized by the appropriate federal and state agencies in developing more effective educational programs for Hawaiian children. • Bi-lingual education funds are needed for our native Hawaiian children who eome from homes where the Hawaiian language is primarily used. • Pre-school funding is crucial to early success for Hawaiian children. • The Hawaiian Studies Programs must be maintained and expanded in our public schools. • In-service training for teachers who instruct Hawaiian children must be provided by the University of Hawaii College of Education and by the Department of Education. Kealoha reported that while OHA has funded two educational efforts, it has very limited financial resources and that the needs are many. "We respectfully urge your considerate compassion and thank you for this opportunity to share our heartfelt concerns."