Hawaii Educators Voice

11.01.09 Building upon standards-based progress | PDF Download

08.02.09 New school of thought | PDF Download

07.05.09 Students need education for the real world | PDF Download

05.03.09 School-business partnerships way forward

04.05.09 Investments in education are smart decisions

03.01.09 The way students learn has changed

02.01.09 Education in need of strong leaders

01.04.09 New ways to resolve higher ed demands

12.07.08 Schools for the future create fine thinkers

11.02.08 Excellent preschool requires quality teachers

10.06.08 Face, role of higher education changing

09.27.08 Schools adapting,with eye on future

08.03.08 Early learning critical for successful future

07.06.08 Rigorous courses benefit everyone

06.01.08 Students need social services to succeed

05.04.08 Will you be a change leader, too?

04.06.08 Bill would ensure keiki come first

03.02.08 Needed: Leaders to transform education

02.03.08 Putting our keiki first pays big dividends

01.06.08 Benefits huge when we invest in schools

12.02.07 Retaining quality teachers is critical

11.04.07 Developing the teacher workforce

10.07.07 Time for commitment to public schools is now

09.02.07 New UH education dean looks at future challenges

08.05.07 Nurture children's learning from birth

07.01.07 Public schools taught him well

06.03.07 Preparing graduates for what lies ahead

05.06.07 Summer school's a work in progress

02.04.07 Education, economy pillars of prosperity

01.21.07 DOE meeting goals, needs with budget that looks much larger than it is

01.07.07 Picking next education dean a crucial decision

12.03.06 Investing in public schools pays off

11.05.06 Creating citizens is schools' mission

10.01.06 Every vote counts in BOE race

02.05.06 Five steps to improve schools

11.27.05 NCLB won't work, but Act 51 just might

10.30.05

Early education must be priority

09.25.05
Fixing Teacher Shortage

08.21.05
Early education needs support

07.31.05
No regrets on a rewarding profession: teaching

07.03.05
Good schools celebrate strengths, not deficiencies

03.13.05
Test results not true measure of schools, teachers

02.06.05
Public schools must do more than teach 3 R's

01.26.05
Early-childhood Investment Needed

12.05.04
Accountability in education has wide support

10.17.04
Can We Close the Education Gap in Hawai ‘i?

09.26.04
Educators see ranking of schools as mistake

08.22.04
Education is vital to preserving our democracy

08.22.04
School renewal and the Hawai‘i Educator's Voice

View Articles by Ruth Tschumy at HEPC

Hawaii State Teachers Association - Joan Husted, Roger Takabayashi

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Education - Christine Sorensen

Hawai‘i Government Employees Association - Alvin Nagasako

Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board - Sharon Mahoe

Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools - Robert Witt

Hawai‘i State Department of Education - Patricia Hamamoto

Hawai‘i Educational Policy Center - Donald B. Young

Good Beginnings Alliance - Elisabeth Chun

The Honolulu Advertiser

About Voices of Educators
Professional educators possess unique knowledge and skills that can and must inform the conversation on the important educational issues of the day. Until now, the professional educators of Hawai‘i—teachers, administrators and teacher educators—have not spoken through the media to exert leadership and influence on these issues. Now, the leaders of the DOE, the HSTA, HGEA (the principal’s union), the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools, the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Good Beginnings Alliance, and the University of Hawai‘i College of Education are creating a strong, united voice for educators under the banner of the Voices of Educators.

Where to “Hear” the Voices of Educators
The Educator’s Voice has entered into an editorial partnership with the Honolulu Advertiser to present the professional educators’ perspective—a perspective guided by research and best practices. Through the Honolulu Advertiser and this website, you can access the views of Hawai‘i’s professional educators on the key issues in education facing our state. Other communications may take the form of position papers, reports, editorials, and testimony to policy-making bodies

Recommendations
Recommendations of the Voices of Educators will, whenever possible, be based on research and well-established best practices. Recommendations will be made only in areas where there is professional consensus. Areas of disagreement will be acknowledged and clarified.

Guiding Values
1. All students need and deserve a high-quality education to realize the American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

2. High-quality education depends on the quality of professional educators who must possess the knowledge, skills and disposition necessary to help all students learn.

3. The primary purpose of schooling is to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and disposition needed for full participation in a democratic society.

4. Whenever possible, decisions regarding education practices must be based on research. In the absence of conclusive research, decisions should be based on accepted best practices.

5. Educators must take the lead in constantly reinventing education in order to improve teaching and learning.

6. As professional educators we have a responsibility to draw on our special knowledge and skills to enhance the common good for all of society.