ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN A FAR-OFF COUNTRY

(TBKTSG) – On the occasion of doing research in Hawaii, I had a chance to experience an excellent education system there. It provides an ideal and equal environment for not only American children but also for international kids coming with their parents who stay temporarily in the U.S. for working and researching purposes.

The school’s principal shows warm greetings to students every morning

I was absolutely amazed to see 7 or 8 fifth-graders together with Ms. Laurie Luczak, Principal of the Hokulani Elementary School, open every car’s doors to welcome students whenever I took my children to school every morning. Those greeting students looked very proud of themselves and happy to voluntarily go to school early with their friends. What impressed me even more was that when the rainy season comes, Ms. Laurie Luczak and Hokulani’s staff, together with their students, would hold their umbrellas to walk every student from their parents’ carsto their classes.

No assembly is held at the school; however, there are always three students who stick a flag into a rope and raise it. When the class ends, they lower the flag and return it to the office. In the end-of-term meeting, students sing their national anthem and put hands on their left chest simultaneously. Fifth-graders are very eager to be assigned to help the school’s staff with kitchen chores in 10-12 hours in order to prepare lunch for the whole school.

Classes officially start at 8 a.m., but parents can take their children to school at 6:30 if they have to go to work early. Students queue for breakfast at 7:30. When classes end at 2 p.m., most parents come to pick up their children. Yet, the school collaborates with a community center to have students until 5:30. Parents have to pay fees for this service, which is US$85 per month for 3 hours in the afternoons, and US$65 per month for an extra hour in the mornings. The Moiliili Community Center support parents through their assistance provided to the school outside office hours.

Ms. Laurie Luczak, Principal of the Hokulani Elementary School,

open every car’s doors to welcome students

Teaching laws to students

With the purpose of raising students’ awareness of law at an early age, police officers are invited to the school to give explanations of law as well as the dangers of drugs and other social evils. Every day before entering their class, students always see pictures of a kid wearing her seatbelt in a car on the schools’ walls, right in their sight.

In addition, there is a warning that reads: “Click or ticket”. Students are taught that they must use crosswalks when they want to cross the street, as jaywalking is illegal and will be fined. Doctors are also invited to the school to talk about their profession atthecareer orientation day for students.

Almost every month the school schedules for students to go on a picnic or visit universities, museums, ecological reserves, etc., aiming to build students’ awareness through realities. As for environmental hygiene, they are taught how to sort waste right in their class.

Competing to be … “president”

At the end of each school year, the whole school gets excited about posters made by fourth-grade students who will compete for a “president” and “vice president” election with a one-year tenure at Hokulani School (the title of the Student Council’s Head is also called President like the U.S. President). Posters are delivered with the message “vote for me” together with promises made by candidates: “A healthy mind will produce bright ideas”, “I will listen to you”, “I will work hard and be responsible”, “Your benefits will be my priority”, “I always tell the truth”, “I want to make differences to our school”, etc.

At the final meeting of each academic year, the candidates will distribute posters with pictures aimed at calling for their election. “Presidents” are excellent students who are trusted by others. They will organize end-of-term and end-of-school year ceremonies and play a role as an MC who has the pleasure to read out the names of students graduating from grade 5. Those “presidents” also run charities at the end of each school year. In fact, if they cannot keep up their good study, they will be dethroned and a new president will be elected from candidates in grades 3, 4 or 5.

Family always in close collaboration with the school

The school’s education always goes with parents’ support. For international students who have not familiarized themselves with a new environment, the school will make arrangements to invite their parents, teacher’s aide, the student’s guardian, and psychological experts, who will attend a meeting with the main teacher in order to deal with any problems in educating them. Each child is considered as an individual entity that needs to be respected; as a result, only that student and the teacher know about his result at school. If he does not share it with his classmates, no one can know about it. For students who have good conduct, often help their friends or get high scores, etc., their parents will be personally notified by mail to participate in an award ceremony. They will also be asked not to let their children know about that in order to impress honored students and not to make the others feel ashamed of themselves as well.

In each semester, the school calls for families’ attendance at the “beautifying the school’s precinct” session in which they all together do the cleaning and clear weeds to maintain the natural landscape. The event is enthusiastically welcomed by most parents and their children. Also, the school prepares lunch for everyone, forming a close collaboration in retaining the school’s hygiene. The occasion helps students get a better understanding of the spirit of working together and foster the awareness of protecting their surrounding environment.

Hokulani School treasures all young talents at school. A painting of multiracial children holding their hands and playing around was drawn on the hall’s wall. The students themselves contributed to drawing the painting in 2002.

On the occasion of elementary school graduation, a number of fifth-grade students with excellent results will be granted a certificate with an embossed national emblem signed by the President, which is not only a reward for their progress in study but also a strong motivation for them to believe in a society where efforts of every individual are appreciated. That belief will be continuously fostered and spread, producing true intellectuals and talents to serve the country.

Elementary education in public schools is completely free of charge. The school maps of each region are delineated and posted on the Office of Education’s website. Once one has got temporary residence, there will surely be schools available for their children to study. To register for their children, parents just need to enter the address of their place of residence online in order to locate where their children are going to study. Since education is obligatory, policies that create favorable conditions for children to go to school are seriously implemented by the school. The amount of budget each school will be granted by the state depends on their admissions. For families having financial problems and unable to afford a vehicle, they can fill out a form to request for a school bus whose expenses will be covered by the government. If parents have low income, they can request for free breakfast and lunch provided for their children. All school-age children are supported to go to school by the state, so no one has to drop out of school due to financial difficulties.

- Trần Đình Lâm

(TBKTSG: http://mobile.thesaigontimes.vn/tinbaichitiet/147176/)

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