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Furlough Fridays spark protests

It's a sad state of affairs in Hawaii. Here, in the birthplace of our president - a walking example of what a good education can do for you if you apply yourself - kids are being shortchanged big time. The teachers union has agreed and the legislature sanctioned something called furlough Fridays. Public schools in hawaii are now closed on Fridays and remain so for the next 12 weeks of school. It's unclear now whether the kids will attend the requisite number of days required for federal funding under No Child Left Behind. Many have asked why the teachers can't just take the pay cut they agreed to and still work those Fridays. That's what people who work for private industry are doing these days. (Those lucky enough to still be working anyway.) The teachers make an eloquent argument. You wouldn't ask a lawyer or doctor or accountant or other professional to work days for free, they say. We too are professionals, they argue, and should not be expected to do something for nothing. I agree that teachers are professionals. I also believe them to be a most underpaid and overworked lot, especially considered the importance of their charge. That said, there is one huge difference between teachers and other professionals. Doctors, lawyers and accountants are not paid by taxpayers, nor are their salaries negotiated by union representatives. Many do regular pro-bono work. There were so many options suggested to counter the furlough Friday idea that were not considered by either the teachers, their union reps, the school board or the legislators. Some charter schools, also public but allowed greater operational independence, have come up with cost cutting measures that precluded them from having to close one day a week. Needless to say, people are peeved and protests will continue outside the state capital every Friday. There are also two class-action lawsuits pending. How much will it cost the state to defend those? Sheesh. What a mess. Of course, you could pick an issue, any issue and make the same claim. What a mess.

Tomorrow I will sit in on an English composition class at the college. That should be a hoot. I never took that class. I'll probably go Thursday, too. The instructor is a favorite among students, so I know I'll learn something.

A hui hou. Aloha!




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