GRASS IN REVIEW

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII

Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society.

 WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW   -    October 23, 2006

A Message From Dick Rowland

A Message From Dick Rowland

School is a Tool

About 11 years ago I sponsored an evening event in Hawaii that featured the founder of The Alliance for the Separation of School and State. That organization is alive and well today.

A panel of community and education experts was on hand to discuss the conclusions of the speaker, Marshall Fritz, and to take questions from the audience. Included on the panel was the Chair of the Board of Education, Executive Director of the Private Schools Association, Chairman of the education committee in the House of Representatives, and the Editor of the Honolulu Advertiser. Attendance was about 85-90 and, for reasons I do not know, included a large contingent (about 35) of home schooling parents.

The program went well with Fritz giving a creative, forceful talk and the panel just as vigorously contesting most of his points.

When it came time for audience questions, a long line accumulated behind the one microphone available. Spirited questions were directed to Fritz as well as members of the panel. It was a great interchange of attitudes, ideas, and philosophies. Then came a key moment. In response to a question from a member of the audience about parents and their concerns not being welcome at the DOE school that her child attended, the Chair of the Board of Education at the time, Karen Knutsen, forcefully expressed the concept that parents were always welcome and that the DOE wanted parents to come to them. She even gestured as she talked, reaching out and bringing her hands back to emphasize the point. Just as she did that, I noticed a pretty lady in the audience jump from her seat and hustle to stand in line behind the microphone. She looked agitated, even perhaps angry, so she had my attention as she waited her turn. When it came she delivered this bombshell(not her exact words).

“I do not have a question. I have some comments in response to Mrs. Knutsen saying that she wants parents to come to her. I am a parent of two children, one five and one seven. As a parent, I am accountable and responsible for my children. I have decided that the education available in the public schools is not satisfactory. Nor am I satisfied with safety and health standards. Therefore I home school my children. I just want you to know, Mrs. Knutsen, that there is no way I will ever come to you about my children. If anyone comes to anyone about my children, Mrs. Knutsen, you will come to me, because I am responsible and accountable for my children and you are not.”

Karen Knutsen then hastened to assure her that she had misunderstood the thrust of her remarks and that she did not in anyway mean to denigrate the responsibility of parents.

The young lady then calmly spoke into the microphone with something like:

“Thank you. I certainly hope so,” and returned to her seat.

It was a clarifying moment for me. I saw the rubber meet the road.

The standard government education system never really respects the responsibility and accountability of parents. It cannot, as presently structured, ever satisfy the requirements of the eloquent young lady, who I later found out was a military wife.      

Let’s think for a bit about the young lady’s situation:

-Her husband was assigned to Hawaii with (perhaps) no other option.

-She readily accepts responsibility for her children and their development. That begs the next question.

-What is her goal (bottom line, end result desired)? Without doubt it is to raise each of her children to be productive, responsible citizens. If she is pursuing the American Dream she wants each of them to be smarter, happier, richer, more productive and better parents then she and her husband.

-To get that job done requires vision, resolve, determination and lots of helpful tools. One of those tools is education. She looked at her choices and decided to fashion her own tool to take care of that part of her obligations.

Which begs a brand new question:

Why is the government operating a tool for parents that might not suit the parents in the pursuit of their duties?

Look at the goal above, is there any way that government could fulfill that mission by itself? No, of course not.

Then why is it “providing” education?

That’s a question for another essay.

Meantime, remember that School is a Tool---for parents.

To the extent government schools are tools for government, they should be more appropriately labeled. Somehow, indoctrination comes to mind.

If you want to know more about the Alliance for the Separation of School and State, click here. 

Dick Rowland, President
dick@grassrootinstitute.org

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.

The Politics of Environmentalism

By Michael R. Fox Ph. D.

Grassroot Perspective-October 14, 2006

The pursuit of science historically has been quite straight forward for the most part.  Hypotheses are put forward, experiments are devised, data are collected, then the key question Can the hypothesis explain the data?  Additional tests are made, peers are consulted, criticisms offered, replications attempted.  It is the first obligation of the honest scientist to try to prove he is wrong. It is no disgrace that improvements are made. Some notable exceptions are known historically, but still these principles were largely followed..

Read more here.

In the Name of We

By Richard O. Rowland

Grassroot Perspective-October 23, 2006

Mark Platte, Editor of the Honolulu Advertiser wrote a long article “Homeless reflect our humanity” in the 10/15/06 issue. In it, he said “we are not doing enough for the more vulnerable among us.” And later “It falls on all of us”. In conclusion, he states “It is said that a measure of society is how well it takes care of its most vulnerable. Using that standard how do we measure up?”

To read more, click here!

 Thoughts on the Long Term Implications of the Power Outage

By Don Newman

Grassroot Perspective-October 24, 2006

I find it fascinating that so many letters to the editors in the local daily papers reflect upset at the power outage caused by the earthquake. It is a reflection of just how spoiled and dependent upon modern conveniences we have all become in today’s society. The expectation is that all these things will be effortlessly provided at all hours of the day and night.

Click here to see more.

Prosperity Sources (P.S.):

Those stellar optimistic risk-takers who are our entrepreneurs are what fuel our prosperity. The items below are offered to help those innovators.  We collect Prosperity Sources and hope our pickings help.

Important Business Opportunities Conference

-For those of you who have small businesses, the Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, is having a “Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands.”  November 13 and 14, 2006. Specifically addressed will be opportunities in Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Opportunities exist in public infrastructure work, military construction, tourism, and shipping/transportation. Speakers include Gov. Lingle, Mayor Hannemann and LT. General Leaf, Deputy Comander, USPACOM. Also numerous officials from the pacific islands awill be on hand and make talks.

Visit www.businessopportunitiesconference.com to register.

Duffer Not Liable

A golfer whose shot toward the green veered wildly in the wrong direction and struck another player in the eye is not liable for the injury, but the golf course might be, the Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled.

The ball bounced off the fairway, into the rough, into a dirt area, and then onto the path on which carts were required to travel. The injured golfer was riding in a cart on the path.

The court noted the path had been routed behind a restroom building. The golfer could not see the cart until he had already made his errant shot.

The court found “it is common knowledge that not every shot played by a golfer goes exactly where he intends it to go,” so the golfer was not liable. The golf course owner might be liable, the court stated, for “routing the cart path behind the subject restroom.” The high court directed the trail court to decide this issue.

-From Yoneda v. Tom, 110 Haw. 367 (2006)

Source: Lawsuit Abuse Fortinightly, October 2006

Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers

Recently, these candidates for state and federal office demonstrated their dedication to the taxpayers of Hawaii by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. By signing the pledge, they commit “to oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” 

To see who signed the pledge, visit the Americans For Tax Reform website.

Try Our Blogs:

Use these links to access various topics.

Dash of Calabash » Blog Archive »The Latest on Rail

Dash of Calabash » Blog Archive »A  New Good Government Website

Dash of Calabash>>Blog Archive >> Lobbying for Federal Tax Dollars

Read what others have written or add your own thoughts.

Opportunities for Young Adults

All of the Institute’s information for young adults is available on our website.

Fresh Perspective

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of young adults.  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.

Contact: Roz@grassrootinstitute.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website.

Transportation Forum

When: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 5:00-7:00 P.M.

Where: The State Capitol Auditorium

Keynote speakers: Marty Stone (Hillsborough Tollway Authority), Randall O’Toole (Thoreau Institute), Panos Prevedouros (UH Professor)

Hillsdale College January 2 – 5, 2007

GRIH will host some special guests from Hillsdale College January 2 – 5.  Professor Gary Wolfram will be one of them.  As many of you know, he is a superior economist and entertaining/provocative speaker.  If you have any ideas for speaking engagements for him, call Dick Rowland.  Also, plan to attend a Hillsdale/GRIH reception on January 3 or 4.  More details later.

Pacific Rim Conference May 23 – 25, 2007

GRIH is helping the State Policy Network (SPN) host a regional conference of their group held at the Sheraton Waikiki.  It is being joined by Pacific Rim nation policy makers and think tanks.  More details soon.

Mark Your Calendars NOW……

Grassroot Institute Annual Awards Dinner

November 11, 2006

Our keynote speaker for the Annual Dinner in 2006 is none other than Wall Street Journal editorial writer John Fund.

Also, please join us in honoring Randall Roth, J.D. co-author of “Broken Trust,” who is the 2006 recipient of the prestigious George Washington Award from Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Call Roz at the office, 591-9193 or e-mail roz@grassrootinstitute.org to make reservation.  More details to follow.

How fast does the state spend your money?

State spending is out of control.  Watch the dollars fly out the window.....

These meters have been recently updated and are current.

Have an Institute Speaker At Your Next Meeting!

From taxation to education and health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is excited 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 grassroot001@hawaii.rr.com.

Grassroot Institute is a proud member of

the State Policy Network and Townhall..

SUPPORT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY

The Institute operates only through the generous donations of friends and benefactors from around Hawaii and the United States, and even the smallest of donations can be used to accomplish great things for the future of our beloved state.

Will you consider becoming a supporter today?
It is quick, easy and secure! Click here!