Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 3, 1 March 1998 — D.O.E Hawaiian studies education, a constitutional mandate, is threatened [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

D.O.E Hawaiian studies education, a constitutional mandate, is threatened

By Roy 'lllkea Benham ĪHE HAWAIIAN studies program in the state Department of Education has been dealt a devastating blow. In school year 1996-97, a decision was niade to eliminate all 20 of the educational specialist and resource teacher positions assigned to the program. These positions were at the department and district Ievels. Responsibility for the program now rests with the director of the School Renewal Group assisted by the specialist for social studies, Hawaiian language immersion and environ-

mental edueaūon. All these persons hold fiill-time positions and have received Hawaiian studies responsibilities as additional duties. Again, a Hawaiian program takes a back seat. What

happened? The Districts have also assigned prograin responsibilities as additional duties to persons with full-time positions. A number of these people have no background in Hawaiian studies. In many instances, districts and schools are depending on the kupuna to ran the program. The kupuna, as part-time employees, are doing their best to maintain the program but their efforts, through no fault of their own, fall short of the basic requirements of the program. The Hawai'i State Constitution fostered the idea that the students of Hawai'i are in need of a consistent and sequential program whieh develops awareness of and appreciation for their state and its heritage. The program as developed over the years by the DOE places emphasis on the history, culture and the language of Hawai'i. Specifics such as values, language, songs, practices, etc., have See, DOE on page 4

Kupuna Roy Benham. former OHA trustee, teaches students how to make pala'ie in the D.O.E. Hawaiian Studies Program.

to be developed progressively through the grade levels. A vital part of the program requires the training of the classroom teachers. Many new teachers have little experience in nā mea Hawai'i and are therefore ineffective in their presentation. Recently, the superintendent of the D0E asked a group of retired resource teachers and current kupuna to set up a training program for teachers. After mueh volunteer time and effort, a training session was made available to some teachers in the Honolulu district, but only three

teachers were interested. This indicates that top management's laek of interest in the program has filtered down to the classroom teacher. The result is that our children are being short-changed regarding the mandate of our constitution. Specifically, they will not be receiving instraction whieh will help them develop a personal awareness of the essence of aloha. What ean we do? Legislation has been introduced in both the senate and the house whieh will put the Hawaiian Studies Program at the level it was two years ago. HB3335 and SB2449 both relate to the education of the children of Hawai'i in the field of Hawaiian studies.

HB3338 and SB2448 make an appropriation for resource teacher positions for the Hawaiian Studies Program. Call your legislator, or send in your testimony. We need your support. If you or your organization need more information, eall or fax me at 396-989 1 . Editor's note: OHA continues to monitor all bills relating to both Hawaiian studies and language immersion programs. To avoid any ambiguity in the state's obligation tofund these activities, OHA will not testify on certain bills, including the above-mentioned, until they are before the House Finance or Senate Ways and Means Committees. ■

DOE From page 1