GRASS IN REVIEW
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII
Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.
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WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW - August 29, 2007 |
The Future of Hawaii's Charter Schools
 Aloha, my name is Paul Vierling and I was honored to have recently served on
the Hawaii State Board of Education. As a current Hawaii Commissioner on the
National Education Commission of the States, I continue to be involved in
educational issues.
I would echo the remarks contained in the below article by Ben DeGrow and
contribute some additional thoughts. Since the revisions to Act 115 were
enacted on July 1st, 2007, the people most responsible and invested in the
success of charters schools here in Hawaii continue to struggle with
implementing the freedoms that Act 115 affords.
Indeed, the revisions were a key victory for educational choice in our state.
However, the members of the Charter School Review Panel (CSRP) appointed by the Board of Education have stumbled in their duty to launch on
a sound footing and have demonstrated they lack the capability to
implement what has been provided in the revisions of Act 115. After
attending one of their first meetings, I was shocked to observe violations
of the "open meeting law" requirements, and immediately filed a complaint with
the Hawaii Office of Information Practices. The decisions made at the
meeting were ruled illegal, resulting in the necessity of holding the
meeting again at considerable inconvenience to those involved.
Unfortunately, these types of behaviors have continued and will result in
challenges causing even more confusion among students, parents, teachers,
administrators, and many Public Charter School stakeholders.
Until strong and capable leaders emerge to fill these critically important
CSRP positions, there will continue to be starts and stops along this path
of educational choice.
I think Linda Smith states it accurately in the article below: "We have nowhere else to go but up in terms of our public education, and charters are going to play a
role". It is my hope that qualified and talented CSRP members work together
to make Hawaii's Public Charter Schools the best this nation has to offer.
Paul Vierling is GRIH's educational consultant. |
IN THE NEWS - HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTARIES
Grassroot Institute is regularly featured in news articles and broadcasts around the state. Here is a sample of some of our recent articles, research stories, and other articles of interest.
Hawaii Removes Obstacle to Charter Schools
By Ben DeGrow
As a charter school champion engaged in a difficult struggle, Hawaii's chief executive has claimed a key victory for educational choice in her state.
On May 31, Gov. Linda Lingle (R) signed into law Act 115, which affords charter schools on the seven Hawaiian Islands more independence from the state bureaucracy than they have previously enjoyed.
(To read more, click here.)
Education School Blues
By Matthew Ladner, Ph.D.
Arthur Levine, former President of the Teachers College of Columbia University, has issued no-holds barred critiques of teacher training and school leadership training. Now Levine has released an overview of researcher training in the nation's colleges of education.
(To read more, click here.)
FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Opportunity for Young Adults:
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter. Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here.
Contact: roz@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.
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TRY OUR BLOGS
Use these links to access various topics.
The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>Submit testimony on Akaka bill to civil rights committee during August
Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>The Misuse of Taxpayer Money
Read what others have written or add your own thoughts. Click here for more blogs.
LIBERTY NETWORK
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a member of an extensive international liberty network of organizations that promote more individual autonomy and less governmental involvement in human affairs.
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On July 31, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii cosponsored a 95th Birthday Celebration Luncheon in honor of Milton Friedman. The main speaker for the event was Doug Bandow, prominent author and commentator on economics and freedom. His talk will be shown on Olelo, Oahu Channel 52 as detailed below:
Monday, September 10th at 8:00 PM (Great time)
Tuesday, September 11th at 8:30 PM (Great time)
Monday, September 17th at 8:00 AM (For the early birds)
Tuesday, September 18th at 8:30 AM (For the early birds)
It is well worth watching.
 This is the irrepressible Jose Pinera with his wife Maria Elena, advertising your Grassroot Institute on Oahu in May 2007. Jose, the architect of Chile's extraordinary success in privatization of Social Security, is the Energizer Bunny in the selling of Social Security reform throughout the world. He is legendary and his legacy for individual freedom is secure. He is co-chairman, Project on Social Security Choice at the CATO Institute, Washington D.C.
UPCOMING EVENTS
All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.
SAVE THE DATE!!! Saturday, November 3, 2007
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Annual Meeting and Dinner
5:00 - 9:00 PM
Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki
The keynote speaker for the evening will be Paul Jacob, a member of the GRIH Board of Advisors and Senior Advisor at the Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation. An acclaimed multi-media commentator, Paul hosts an online, radio, and print opinion program, Common Sense, which reaches a growing list of over 15,000 e-mail subscribers and is aired daily by more than 150 stations in 48 states. For more information about Paul Jacob, click here.
Paul Jacob's article "Hide the Debt!" was featured in the May 2nd edition of Grass in Review. Click here for links to all of Paul Jacob’s Grassroot Perspective articles.
More information regarding the annual meeting and dinner will be available on the website shortly. |
How fast does the state spend your money?
State spending is out of control. Watch the dollars fly out the window.....
Have an Institute speaker at your next meeting!
From taxation to education, from health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is ready to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at roz@grassrootinstitute.org.
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CRABGRASS
The number of U.S. citizens who relocated to Canada hit a 30-year high last year. Nearly twice as many Americans moved to Canada in 2006 than in 2000.
(Source: ABCNews.com)
Fifty-eight percent of Americans think the nation needs a third major political party.
(Source: USA Today/Gallup Poll)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”
--- Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
“The solution to America’s education problems is not more money.... Instead, it’s the introduction of competition that could be achieved through school choice. Most people agree there should be public financing of education, but there is absolutely no case to be made for public production of education. We agree there should be public financing of F-22 fighters, but that doesn’t mean a case can be made for setting up a government F-22 factory.”
--- Columnist and economist Walter E. Williams
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