08/31/2020
Aloha Puna,
I support funding a quality education for Hawaii’s children. They are our future, and the path to a better tomorrow begins with a strong foundation that begins with supportive families, infrastructure needs, and distance learning.
I have a vision that the Department of Education should provide the same access to a quality education for all of its students across the state. While this will take time to implement, our district cannot settle for accepting second-class status. Schools in Puna can be fully funded. Teachers can be adequately compensated. Resources can be made available for parents and guardians to become more fully involved in their child’s education. Targeted investments in technology can bridge the “digital divide” to provide a safe learning environment at home.
That is the goal, but the reality is that life is hard. Puna families struggle with the cost of attending school, adolescent girls are at risk of early pregnancy, and children lack access to basic needs such as food and clothing. My greatest fear is the children in our Puna community may not make it back to school. That makes it even more important that we, as policymakers, support programs, policies, and measures to reach out to children who are most at risk of dropping out. Education is a way up and a way out.
The most important subject a student can learn is how to become a life-long learner. Turning a student into a seeker of knowledge and a critical thinker requires our whole community’s support. Many of the babies being born today will live to see the start of the 22nd century. What kind of a future are we setting up for them?
Administrators, educators, parents and lawmakers will need to come together to create a clean, safe environment for children to learn. Let us leave politics at the door, and come together for all children’s education to be successful during these tough times.
Please join our working group to explore these opportunities. We will have zoom meetings every week.
Your candidate for Puna Rep,
– G 🤙🏽🤙🏽