We hear often about our local public education system when there’s drama involved- micromanagement complaints, systemic issues, intransigence, low test scores, high classroom temperatures, personality conflicts, myriad administration changes, et al. So let’s acknowledge some good programs in place right now, especially coming out of this pandemic wilderness. Kudos to those who tolerated teaching/learning from home; the time has hopefully come for in-person reunions, with precautions.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides undernourished residents here with additional funds to complement their own food purchases. A recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser commentary/editorial noted that SNAP enrollment here is up 30% since the pandemic began, now serving about 200,000 local residents. And depending on the number of qualified SNAP households in a given school district, area schools might be eligible to provide free meals to every student, which is great, since many borderline malnourished kids are part of low-income families that register just above SNAP’s maximum financial earnings threshold; thus these kids also get free school food if their schools qualify.
Hungry, tired, and unmotivated students don’t provide an ideal opportunity for maximizing learning opportunities. As the newspaper commentary stated, we now need more people encouraging neighbors and friends to take advantage of this opportunity to get free food into more schools that warrant it. The SNAP school program must be maximized for those in need.
And clap for The Department of Education, taking advantage of federal pandemic funds earmarked for learning by offering free summer school “learning hubs” at 234 campuses statewide, and offering a three-week transition program for new kindergartners who stayed home due COVID-19. The DOE Board voted to not charge anyone for summer school, which is a good (and timely) decision.
And finally, if your kid ever asks you “why school?”, tell them that they’ll develop life skills as they learn independence, interdependence, problem-solving, live up to commitments, show up on time, and work with all kinds of students. Tell them that it all inevitably adds up to having more choices. A fulfilling life often includes having myriad choices and options. The more you know, glow, and show, the more options you should have later in life. Educated, interested, querying, attentive, passionate young people may become tomorrow’s leaders, break through where others do not, and have more choices available to them in their post-school, real world. Feed, motivate, and engage kids… and the sky’s the limit.
Think about it…