Hawai’i and Public Education - Archived

As many of you know, for the past 15+ years I’ve been working to support and improve public education in Hawai‘i. You may wonder, what do Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i do to bring improvement and empowerment to Hawai‘i families?

Among other activities – such as family workshops in schools and community centers, witnessing and testifying at HI BOE and legislature, promoting positive school achievements –  we have been honored with the opportunity to write a column in the Hawai’i statewide DOE newsletter that goes out to about 40,000 families. Here is our column for December:

 December reminds us to unite for equality, justice, and dignity for all people!

December is designated as Universal Human Rights Month, with December 10 commemorating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a global pledge affirming that every person deserves freedom and dignity, regardless of background or identity.

Throughout the month (and beyond) we’re called to act for equality, justice, and human rights. Explore classroom activities from the United Nations here: UN Human Rights Activities for Children.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) – December 3

This observance promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and raises the awareness of the challenges faced by this community, specifically in the areas of human rights, accessibility, and inclusion. The Australian IDPwD site offers discussion guides and classroom resources to help start meaningful conversations.

Inclusive Schools Week – December 8-12

Each year, the Inclusive Schools Network invites us to reflect on the progress that’s been made, as well as on the work that still needs to be done, toward equitable education for all learners—especially those marginalized by disability, gender, income, culture, or language.

This year’s theme “Children First” comes from the Maasai greeting Casserian Engeri, which means “And how are the children?” It reminds us that strong communities begin with the well-being of all their children.
Ask yourself:

• Are all children in your program feeling welcome and supported?
• Do your routines help everyone feel included?
• How can you help kids with disabilities feel seen and meaningfully included?

Each of these observances reminds us that human rights are the foundation of education.

We must all work towards creating spaces where every child can learn, grow, and feel like they belong.

My ministry here is “half-time” but whole-hearted!

So, I wanted to share with you some of what is going on in the rest of my time:)

See you in church, online, or in the community!
Rev. Deborah