1000 Student Voices

From Save Our Schools Hawaii

On December 3, SOS Hawaii put out the call out for student perspective on Furlough Fridays. The submissions reflect a wide range of emotions, from sadness and worry about the future to anger toward our state leaders. Many children understand that the state is in a time of economic difficulty but, by and large, question the decision to close schools. SOS also received submissions from students who like Furlough Fridays. Those submissions are included in the ongoing project. Participants — kindergartners to college-level students — are from all over Oahu, from Waianae to Hawaii Kai, Ewa Beach to Kaneohe.

See more 1000 Voices videos on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/sos808DOTorg

Submit your 1000 Voices entry here.

January 12, 2009

January 12, 2009: Hear the voices of kids from Waianae Boys and Girls Club.

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Dec. 19, 2009 Hi my name is Neal Akatsuka and I am an undergraduate senior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I am a product of a long line of public education in Hawaii – I attended Pauoa Elementary, Kawananakoa Intermediate, and Roosevelt High School, which culminated in my decision to attend UH as a Regent Scholar... This narrative would not be possible now given the current threat to public education on all levels. We now live in a state that deems public education expendable...What is being slowly chipped away at here is... Read More

December 11, 2009: Keenan and Kailee, two second graders at Waikiki Elementary share their thoughts on furlough Fridays. What should we do? "The grownups could be brave enough to go to the state and say 'we want school back on fridays!' "

width=300 Dear Governor Lingle, Hi my name is Geneva Kwaku. This is my 5th furlough Friday. Three weeks ago I wrote to President Obama about furlough Fridays, because the Representatives, Senators, and especially YOU!! haven't done anything to put all these poor public school children back in awesome school. When you're a kid the rest of your life depends on school. If you go to school and get a good education you can go to a good college and get a good job and with a good job you will get money and be able to buy food, clothes, water, and shelter and live a happy life. I heard that there might not be furlough Fridays. We are losing time so please hurry up and find the money to pay our hard-working and loving teachers. I hope that when President Obama comes to Hawaii we can say that we are in school again, and that will be the BEST! day in our lives. Sincerely, Geneva N. Kwaku in grade 3 at Kahala Elementary School

width=300 Dear Linda Lingle, Were you thinking? This is going on for 2 years, 24 months! Do you understand that we want to be smart! Not a bunch of people who don't know 1000-2? How would you like it if we didn't have any money and gave you furloughs? You wouldn't like it so why are you doing it to us? Stop the furloughs. Sincerely, Raine

December 4, 2009 Dear Save Our Schools, Linda Lingle, The DOE, & Whoever else this may concern,

Furlough fridays have really been a burden on many of Hawaii students. Yeah, we get to go out on those days and not have to go to school, but we can do that any day. It's taking away from something BIGGER, something more IMPORTANT, our damn education! My name is C.G., and I'm a junior at Mililani High School. And furlough fridays have affected me drastically. I might not be the best student, or even a good student. I skip class, and at times I don't even pay attention. But I really do care about my education. These furloughs have been taking away from the class time that I NEED, to raise my F to a B, talk story with my friends, learn about things I need to know, and things I don't, but most of all its taking away my future.

This might only be a temporary problem, but its effect is permanent. It seems like our own governor, the person who is supposed to be steering our state in the right direction is digging our graves six feet under! I know I don't understand how things go in the DOE, but I know that if they want to, they can do something. This is BS, no one is caring about the kids, no one is caring about the -- future! How will you feel in 10 years, when you go to the doctor and he doesn't know the difference between strep throat & the flu? Well things like that are gonna happen, because how will the upperclassmen in high school get into good colleges when the have THE LEAST amount of school days in the country! Furlough days are YOUR choice, and you with everyone else in the state will have to suffer the consequences.

Thank you for you time. Sincerely C.G..

December 10, 2009: Why is education important? Hear from Hawaii's keiki! Have something to say? Add your voice to the 1000 student voices campaign!
December 10, 2009: Anna, 5th grader at Noelani, wrote this play about furlough fridays. What can kids do? Get involved!!
December 10, 2009: Cole, 3rd grader at Noelani. "I think furlough fridays are failure fridays."
December 10, 2009: Ali, 3rd grader at Noelani talks about why Hawaii should be special, but we have the lowest number of educational days.
December 3, 2009: A skit about Furlough Fridays and Homework. By Raine, 3rd grader at Noelani.


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