163, Not For Hawaii

I am very upset that Hawaii's public schools has cut 17 Friday's out of the current school year because the State does not have enough money to pay its teachers. Seventeen entire days of education gone, making the school year down to 163 days, one of the shortest school year in the country.

Do you know how many years of American history, algebraic equations and recesses this equals? An invaluable amount of knowledge and experiences that's unfortunately loss to public school students like my younger brother Zadrian (11 years-old) and sister Zoe (5 years-old). Very likely these 17 long weekends will be spent watching Hannah Montana or iCarly--I foresee long-term consequences to this seemingly short furlough.

It is very sad that Hawaii's public school students are getting the short end of the stick, when it already suffers from a mediocre education system. Parents are coordinating with Afterschool Programs to keep the schools open on the furloughed Fridays, but my guess is legal issues will make opening the school very unlikely.

It's important that those in Hawaii spread the word and concern: 163, Not For Hawaii. We Want 180 Too, Put Our Kids Back in School.

I can't help that my inner-marketer is so dominant.