Hawaiian FURLOUGH FRIDAYS

The big talk here in Hawaii is about Furlough Fridays. The government is over budget and they need to make up for all the money they have wasted, so instead of cutting benefits in the prisons (such as cable TV or extra perks) or taking welfare away from people who are not legal citizens, they have decided to take it out of the already LACKING education system.

I am not saying that my girls are getting a substandard education, but the system as a whole is very low on the national level.
Part of that has to do with the mentality of the families living here. Many of the people coming to Hawaii hear how bad the schools are and instead of fighting to be sure their kid has a good outcome, they use that information to make excuses for their kid's grades.

SAY WHAT??

Yes, it is true. There are only 5 kids each week who turn in their homework. This is ridiculous! My daughters get rewards for doing what is expected of them!
I have explained to my girls that even though the teacher feels the need to reward them, it is an expected obligation to be responsible and work toward their best education.
They all agree, but of course they are happy to get the treat!

Another thing I have observed in watching students and parents is that they are really not involved. We have a folder that comes home every week with important information. It is called the Wednesday folder because it comes home every Wednesday...imagine that!

I look forward to seeing it and getting all the updates on school events, field trips and other important documents. Last week a note went out detailing how our school is going to make up some of the time from the 17 Furlough Fridays we will be missing. There are some great ideas in there. They were voted on and some are now policy for the rest of the year. It will be interesting to see how many people didn't read the flyer.
School was getting out at 12:30pm on Wednesdays and starting next week, they get out at 1pm.
There will be so many people up there early and all of them will be complaining about how they needed a reminder. This is an entertaining concept to me. How, if they are unwilling to read what comes home in the folder, are they supposed to remind them of the change?

All I am saying is, Furlough Fridays (all 17 of them ) are what you make of them. We are going to go hiking, run on the track, go to the beach, head to the museums and just have a great time being a family! How can anyone whine about that?

I am not saying that I am happy about my girls getting fewers days in school, or that they won't have to work harder on the days they are there. I am just saying that the state voted, it passed and they are off from school for an extra 17 days....make it a great thing!

I get to have the best of both worlds!

Just a note:
Thorin recently won an art contest at the University of Hawaii's science program. She was chosen from all the 3-6th grade entries from all the school in Hawaii. It was on the news!

She also won the recent "make your own country flag" art contest in her school.

She is a very detailed artist, a super math student (she actually maxed out the national test last year!)....even though her school failed for overall scores!
Her classmates call her their weapon when they play math wars in class.

Thorin is very blessed to have one of the most challenging teachers in her grade. Sorenna's teacher is really pushing her to do great things and Cannon's teacher is moving her into the computer group (usually reserved for the older kids)....she is still only 4 years old!

Life in Hawaii is great...even with the dreaded Furlough Fridays!
Aloha!