Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 3, 1 March 1992 — lmmersion program expanded [ARTICLE]

lmmersion program expanded

by Christina Zarobe After listening to powerful testimony from Hawaiian language advocates, the Board of Education last month voted to expand the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program through high school. The unanimous vote by the 13-member board approved: • Providing sixth-grade students in the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program with one hour of English language instruction. • Extending the program to grades seven and eight. • Providing seventh and eighth-grade stu-

dents with one hour of English instruction. • Extending the program from kindergarten through 12th grade for immersion students by 1995 at a school on O'ahu and the other on Hawai'i. Board member Betty Lou Miura said the comments made by representatives from the University of Hawaii's Manoa and Hilo eampuses, the Punana Leo program, parents, and immersion instructors had an impact on how she viewed the program. "I saw the commitment, the real belief of these people in the Hawaiian Language continued on page 6

Education from page 1 Immersion Program," she said. "The parental involvement to me is so basic to education. And I see this very strongly in the Hawaiian immersion program." Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses Keale Sr., who also serves as chairman of the Education and Culture Committee, lauded the Board of Education for its decision. "First of all, it's a brave move on their part. "All things lacking, they still had the Courage to endorse and support that idea. I congratulate them on that." In support of the program expansion, a report from the Hawaiian Education Affairs Committee to Dr. Mitsugi Nakashima, chair of the Board of Education, noted that Hawaiian is one of the two official languages of the state. "However, it is an endangered language," the report states. "Parents are voluntarily plaeing their children in the program to ensure that their children will not lose their language and culture." But one eoneem about expanding the language immersion program to grades seven and eight is that school material translated into Hawaiian is limited. Another eoneem is that more teachers who are bilingual in Hawaiian and English are needed. In response to the shortages, Keale said, "1 fully understand those things are lacking, however, perhaps this is one of those times to be innovative and test the dedication and commitment of those who want to see the language live by saying to them 'We took the ehanee, now let's all get together and make it happen."' Athough Board of Education member Miura said she supports the language immersion program, she recommends that Hawaiian organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Alu Like, ine., Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Estate lend assistance, including financially. "It's a long-range thing. The department wants to do the best it ean to help the immersion program get on its feet...but the department does have to service the entire state," said Miura. "There are many, many needs in the public." If Hawaiian groups rally behind the immersion program, she predicted that the general public will understand the value and necessity of preserving the language. "They (those testifying) were very articulate and eloquent and I think I saw the passion for what they believed in," Miura said. Keale said he too recognizes the effort of those involved with the program and is confident the program will succeed. "1 see something here that I know will work. I feel it is going to work because of the commitment of the people who want it to work." But he pointed out that OHA has consistently attended meetings and discussions in favor of the immersion progra'm. "We've always been there." "But education is the primary responsibility of the Department of Education," Keale said. "OHA, Alu Like, Kamehameha Schools and the like Hawaiian agencies provide the frosting on the eake. You provide the meal and the eake and we'll put the frosting on the eake."