Hawaii schools to move to four-day week in state cost-cutting measure

[Newsjock]

Source: The Guardian

Thousands of working parents in Hawaii are scrambling to make childcare arrangements ahead of the closure on Friday of all public schools, in a bid by the state's education authorities to cut costs.

All 256 of Hawaii's public schools will be closed in the first of 17 "furlough Fridays" that will see a drastic cut in school time for up to 171,000 children. The reduction of the school week from five to four days will last for at least the next two years.

The furloughs are the most draconian measure yet taken in the US, where the recession has forced many states to slash public services. At least 25 states have forced teachers to take unpaid days off, but most of the cuts have fallen on holidays or on preparation days rather than on actual school days.

... The first of the furloughs, however, are likely to be greeted by widespread protests from parents angered that a state that is already towards the bottom of America's league table for schools performance is further slashing facetime in the classroom. The Hawaiian school year is the shortest across the country. Yet the cuts will reduce the number of teaching days in the academic year to 163 compared with 180 in most US school districts. Hawaii is ranked 47th out of 50 in reading and mathematics among its 13-year-old public school students.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/21/hawaii-schools-fridays-furlough

[virgogal]

1. Awful,just awful. 163 school days are just not enough.

[DumpDavisHogg]

2. It's plenty

If the Hawaii school system is as much of a disaster as Kentucky's is, it's plenty. Trust me on that.

The bigger issue is how they don't have enough money for schools, when there's billions to give to big banks.

[chelsea0011]

6. I disagree. It's what you do with the 163 that matters.

[joeycola]

10. yes.

[pattmarty]

3. Don't they have a Republican Governor?

[Cha]

8. Yes, they do and by all accounts

she's the typical sleazy hypocrite.

She's gone in 2010 and the last I heard, Neil Abercromie(the Dem Rep from Kaua'i) was going to run.

[mike_c]

4. when a great power crumbles...

...can you see the tipping point coming in advance, or only in hindsight?

[pattmarty]

5. hindsight. I am not a particular history buff, but if you look back at...........

..........."recent" history that sure seems to be the case.

[Rage for Order]

7. If only this trend would go nationwide

Make business hours 7:30am - 6:30pm four days a week, with Fri/Sat/Sun as the weekend. Close government offices, private employers, schools, etc. I once worked a job with four 10 hour days and it was a sweet set up. About the time you start thinking you have to go back to work on your 2nd day off you realize you have another entire day off.

[Cha]

9. I hear ya..get the work done and the

education absorbed but have a balance and save all that extra dough.

[opihimoimoi]

11. Cat, we somehow got a friggen Pub Fov who has not solved shit in 7 years

I believe they stopped her from doing this...she is so incompetent its pathetic..

Cat,

I gatta tella ya sumpthing...some of my friends are aliens from out there some where...not Honduras but ET types...they been on Earth for 27 years....They have commanded me to contact the White House and the UN via a DVD re an appeal for global stability.

Mongo was here for 7 days as a guest and collaborator....I thought he would be good for the effort but since changed my mind...he needs time to reach this level of understanding....somehow...he don get the big pic...we still friends

but I need help...I not asking for money...but when we start series efforts to vreate large international Luau..I wish for you and others to come help...

Hugh effort, hugh idea...its about sharing concepts addressing global shit on a collective mode...like planetary level

Gimmee a hollar..

Dennis

[CatWoman]

12. HAHAHAHAHAHA

I get it :)

:hi:

[opihimoimoi]

13. Thought ya would

:hi:

[callous taoboy]

14. This teacher is moving to Hawaii IMMEDIATELY!

[excess_3]

15. joyous news ... the school year is too long .nt