The Learning Tree
‘Ka la’au o ka na’auao’

By Dr. Julia Myers Contributing Writer

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS -- I have learned since coming to Hawaii that the soil is different here. I noticed this after my first trip to the North Shore when red footprints began showing up on my beige carpet.
I also noticed that not all things grow equally in this soil. Tomatoes we grew on the mainland didn't fare so well here on Oahu. Yet, the papaya tree my husband planted grew quickly from pencil size to more than 10 feet tall and has produced a massive amount of large, sweet fruit.
I have found that no two places are completely the same, and at each place, some things grow better than others. It is a good thing that as gardeners we are not easily deterred. We are always ready to explore different options for gardening, adding bagged soil to the native earth and adjusting the amount of sunlight and water for plants that seem to be struggling.
So, how does this apply to learning? The subtitle for this month's column is "Ka la'au o ka na'auao," which is Hawaiian for "the tree of learning." Chances are, if you are a parent, you have heard the reports regarding the school systems in Hawaii.
Long before most of us arrived, we "heard" about the quality of schools. And we were advised about the best options for ensuring our children were not "hurt" by their educational experiences here.
We all desire the best for our children. We want to make certain that they are not only afforded the best opportunities, but also that they leave the island on equal academic footing with their peers on the mainland.
I believe this is possible. Although the educational soil may be different in Hawaii, it is not necessarily inferior, nor should it determine the fate of our children's learning trees.
There are many educational options and opportunities available for our children in Hawaii, and for parents, several resources that can assist us in helping our children succeed. With that said, here are four suggestions for nurturing your child's ka la'au o ka na'auao.
 

Keep an open mind.
Not only wait to form your own opinions of the schools in Hawaii, but also be open to various learning opportunities and options for schooling here. As with any location, different educational options are available in the state, including public, private and home schools.
During a move, many military families plan and take advice from other military families. But like children, schools and teachers are unique, and what may be ineffective for one child may be the best option for another. Additionally, as your child progresses in his or her education here, it may be necessary to re-evaluate the options from time to time.
Determine the needs and interests of your family and child.
Things to consider here are the special interests, talents and/or needs of your child, and other family considerations such as the location of the school and whether or not you want a school to have special programs or a specific religious affiliation.
By knowing well what your family and child's needs and priorities are, you'll be better able to find educational opportunities that meet these needs.
 

Become knowledgeable.
Clearly, to make well-informed decisions regarding your child's education is important. Decision-making entails not only having knowledge about a school's academic record, curricula, philosophy, programs, policies and services, but also of the state's educational laws, academic standards and requirements.
On a personal level, decision-making means possessing an understanding of how your child learns and how you can best help him or her. Fortunately, many education sources in Hawaii can help you gain this knowledge such as the installation's school liaison officer, or SLO, whose is responsible for assisting parents and students transferring in and out of schools and linking families to their correct source for school information.
Online resources include reliable information about school quality, educational requirements and school choice, as well as suggestions for parents to help their children succeed.
 

Get involved.
There are several ways you can get involved in your child's education. Organizations such as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the School Community Council (SCC) and the Parent-Community Networking Centers (PCNC) offer a means for parents to work with schools and teachers to enhance educational opportunities and the performance and well-being of all schoolchildren in Hawaii.
Perhaps the most important way you can get involved with your child's education, though, is by taking interest in your child's schoolwork, interacting with teachers, communicating well with your child, and supporting your child in curricular, cocurricular and extracurricular activities.
Volunteer in the classroom, chaperone a field trip or just read with your child. By getting involved you are not only conveying the importance of education to your child, you are also playing an active role in directly affecting the quality of your child's education here in Hawaii.
As an optimist, I believe strongly in the saying, "Bloom where you are planted." This philosophy seems especially fitting for military families who uproot on a regular basis and move to places they have never been. The philosophy is demonstrated time and time again by our mobile military students who show incredible flexibility and adaptability as they continue to grow and blossom in all types of environments.


Web sites for parents
http://doe.k12.hi.us/
Hawaii's Department of Education
http://www.pacom.mil/jvef/
The Joint Venture Education Forum

http://www.militarychild.org/
The Military Child Education Coalition

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Education/SchoolChoice
The Heritage Foundation

http://arch.k12.hi.us/school/nclb/default.html
The Accountability Resource Center Hawaii (No Child Left Behind)

http://www.greatschools.net and http://www.schoolresults.org
For school information, including testing results and school comparisons.

http://militaryfamily.k12.hi.us/seminar/alternatives.htm
For alternative schooling options.

http://www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=pn
U.S. Department of Education.