Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 8, 1 August 1997 — KSBE community gives perspectives [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KSBE community gives perspectives

Editor's note: As promised in the July edition of the Ka Wai Ola o OHA, we have provided our readers and all parties associated with Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate and Na Pua a ke Ali'i Pauahi , ine ., an opportunity to have their views printed. The following are all of fhe letters received from organizations, as well as some of the letfers from individuals. Teachers eall f or change In early May, long-standmg management problems at Kamehameha Schools Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate reached proportions that no longer cold be kept from public awareness. | x Hoping to address these problems within the Kamehameha 'ohana, Nā Kumu o Kamehameha, a group of over 200 faculty members, pre-schooI through grade 12 at thc Kapālama campus, made repeated requests to meet with KSBE trustees. There was no continued on page 3

response. We have therefore made our positions known in several public statements. Our probIems as a school eommunity are pervasive: a climate of fear and the threat of personal intimidation, the underminihg of the values we represent as educators ahd the removal of au thority form those most directly responsible for the care of students. We urge all those with pertinent information about such problems to eommunicate with the court-appointed fact-find-er, Patrick Yim. This confidential disclosure will provide crucial evidence whieh will validate the need to resolve problems within KSBE. A positive result of the current crisis is that teachers have joined together and are calling for a fresh and sincere examination of our school community. It is clear to us that the turmoil of the last months is deeply rooted in the status quo of our institution. Kamehameha teachers are seeking a new set of school habits to replace the ones that have failed us. All groups in KSBE must be involved in this process. An inclusive approach requires that change not be mandated by any one person or group. Genuine community growth will result from an open, evolving and collaborative process as challenges are met. Some principles that guide our discussion and that we hope will be included in any future dialogue within the Kamehameha 'ohana are the following: • Honor Our Past - Everyone within the KSBE 'ohana must respect the distinctive culture, traditions and history of Kamehameha Schoo1s. / / • I ,ive Our Values - We must all exem,plity the \alues adopted by the trustees irf our mission statement: Pono, 'Imi, 'Ike, Laulima, Na'au Ponp, / Mālama and 1 la'aha'a. Let us add to these the over!ying value of Aloha, a sense of warmth and respect for others. • Monitor 0ur Purpose - We must regularly rē-evaluate what is most

important to ensure the highest quality education for our students as needs and opportunities change, • Distribute Authoritv - We must rethink the model of top-down autocratic management ahd locate the authority for implementing the school's educational mission with those who are closest to students: the faculty, administrators and staff of the school. • Open Communication - We need lines of communication that move in a more horizontal direcHon and promise partnership in school operations. At present, students and faculty are informed of most decisions rather than being involved in their design 1 • Prevent Crises - We must respond to problems promptly and respect a group process in addressing them. This provocative approach will strengthen our collective responsibihty, lead to shared ownership of solutions and prevent crises like the one in whieh we now find ourselves. Kamehaiheha teachers are calling fbr fundamental changes in the way our school is managed. WE are eommitted to a long-term, cooperaHve process of rebuildirvg our learning community. We renew our pledge to continue fāculty-student interaction of the highest quality and to work together to hbnor the vision of our beloved founder, Ke Ali'i Pauahi. RepresentaHves for Nā Kumu o Kamehameha $ Gary Obrecht Charlene Hoe % * jĒ David Kawika Eyre CarolyU Kehau Abad 4 1 -

§ / Nō Kumu o Kamehameha f yf 7 * continued from page 1