YouTube: "Stop Furlough Fridays Rally at the state Capitol' by Paul Lee (청산 기자)
Protests at the Hawaii State Capitol on first day of Hawaii furlough school closings
Across the Hawaii Islands today (October 23, 2009), 170,000 public school students were anywhere but the classrooms where they would normally be. Hundreds of younger students spent the day in child care programs, but many others were staying home with caregivers or older siblings, and plenty of older kids converged on beaches, malls and parks.
The 17 furlough Fridays were part of a two-year contract the Hawaii State Teachers Association ratified in September. The furlough days amount to a 7.9 percent pay cut for 13,000 teachers, and gave Hawaii the shortest school year in the nation.
Yesterday, those who work at schools but don't fall under HSTA and won't be furloughed today were given assignments from school principals on how to spend their time at closed campuses. There are 2,280 United Public Workers employees at public schools, and 180 UPW workers based at DOE offices. They include cafeteria workers, custodians, electricians, masons and other laborers, Goya said.
State Sen. Norman Sakamoto, chairman of the Education Committee, said the UPW workers will probably spend the first furlough Friday catching up on cleaning or working on inventory — the same sorts of things they do during winter and spring breaks and other days off. He said he hopes the furlough days are planned out well, though, so the UPW workers don't spend the time "just sitting on the side."
In response to the backlash over furloughs, Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), said it's now time to focus on a solution.
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The rally drew hundreds of parents, teachers and students to protest the closure of public schools on "furlough Fridays."
Before the rally, people lined Beretania Street outside the Capitol holding signs that read, "No furloughs" and "My child left behind."
Jennifer Moy, who helped organize the rally, said the event is about sending a strong message to legislators, the governor and to anyone else who will listen.
"We wanted to advocate for our public schools," she said.
Many parents brought their children, who are missing school today, to the rally.
Shawna Wilcox-Ho, of Kailua, brought her three sons — ages 5, 6, and 9 — to the event.
"I think it's very sad," she said of the furloughs. "My boys will suffer because of this."
Speakers at the event included parents and teachers, along with experts on education and community leaders.
Photos/ Honolulu Times publisher-editor Paul Lee (청산 기자)
Parents demand Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle's layoff rather than teachers for their children. They together give reporter their friendly 'Shaka.'
Former President George W. Bush's remarkable education policy "No Child Left Behind" was changed by the anti-furlough fridays rally participants this time here at the state Capitol.
"My Child Left Behind" STOP furlough fridays 10/23/2009 to 6/2011
Faked (Hawaii Governor) Linda Lingle Daycare Center sign leads
This family already knows that they are being left behind.
The rally drew hundreds of parents, teachers and students to protest the closure of public schools on "furlough Fridays."
Before the rally, people lined Beretania Street outside the Capitol holding signs that read, "No furloughs" and "My child left behind."
Jennifer Moy, who helped organize the rally, said the event is about sending a strong message to legislators, the governor and to anyone else who will listen.
"We wanted to advocate for our public schools," she said.
Many parents brought their children, who are missing school today, to the rally.
Shawna Wilcox-Ho, of Kailua, brought her three sons — ages 5, 6, and 9 — to the event.
"I think it's very sad," she said of the furloughs. "My boys will suffer because of this."
Speakers at the event will include parents and teachers, along with experts on education and community leaders.
Hawaii received the 50th statehood of the United States in 1950. These families express the 50th place of Hawaii education due to furlough fridays for two years.
Signing petition to Governor Linda Lingle. Petition was delivered to Lingle after the rally.
Hawaii Kingdom flag watches the rally.
On the other side of sign board reads "Government gets a "F"
Five members of the group hand-delivered the petition to Lingle's office at about 11:30 a.m.
The group estimated that more than 4,000 people signed the petition online, at the rally and at events scattered around Oahu.
On her back "F U R L O U G H S" letters stand for ... bottom line, Hawaii education!
"No Furlough" while Jennifer Moy sending a strong message to legislators,
the governor and to anyone else who will listen.
"We wanted to advocate for our public schools."
While hundreds of teachers like Lori-Ann find themselves and
hundreds of keiki applaud what they hear from the speaker at
the state Capitol rally.
Parents are doing their part for their keiki (Children).
"Government is Wrong!"
Behind the hot stage, two children's mom intentionally put them on Channel 9 TV coverage:
With surprise smile to Governor Linda Lingle for her unexpected blow and Daycare
Shannon Kaaa holds her wish statement sign.
With Hawaii's first and recently ordained Saint Damien anti-furlough fridays rally
My daughter wears "Hawaii State DOE Left Me Behind" T-shirt picked up at the state Capitol rally today. On her room door posted is "My Child Left Behind - STOP Furlough Fridays 10/23/2009 to 6/2011." She looks like going to have fun with the furloughs!
My favorite T-shirt bears "Hawaii State Left My Child Behind" print.
First "Furlough Fridays" early afternoon - Hawaiian high school boys and girls students who should be in the schools at this hour on the way home from the beaches at about 1:45 p.m. at Ward Avenue and H1 Freeway. "No school," they said.
Photos/ Paul Lee (청산 기자)
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The Honolulu Advertiser photo
Hundreds of parents, students and teachers protested at the state Capitol yesterday at the Stop Furlough Fridays rally.
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오늘 아침 출근하자마자 하와이주청사로 취재하러 달려갔습니다. 그동안 주정부 재정적자를 줄이기 위한 '금요일무급휴무'(furlough fridays) 시행에 대한 린다 링글 주지사와 주공무원 노조와의 줄다리기 협상이 계속됐습니다. 드디어 지난 10월 19일 노조회원들의 찬성투표에 이어 어제 법원판사가 휴무실시반대청원을 기각하므로써 앤티퍼로 집회가 무급휴무 시작 첫날에 열렸습니다. |
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취재를 마치고 티셔츠와 사인보드를 받아들고 돌아왔습니다. 기자의 집에서도 다른 여늬 가정과 같이 공립학교에 다니는 딸이 home alone(집지키기)을 하고 있었습니다. 무급휴가에 대한 반대의견이 많았습니다. 사진에서 보듯이 주지사를 성토하는 말, 학교에 가지못하고 집에 남아 있는 학생들을 걱정하는 보모들의 말, 학교를 사랑한다는 학생의 말, 주교육국이 주지사의 요청을 순순히 받아들여 학교문을 닫고 학생들을 집에 있게 했다는 불만, 학교에 나가서 학생들을 가르치고 싶다는 선생님의 말 등... 그런데 오늘의 집회를 나무라는 입장도 있드군요. |
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1만3천명의 교사를 하루 쉬게하고 주재정적자를 메꾸는 돈이 하루에 4백만불정도가 되는데, 2년간 매학년도 수업일수 180일에서 17일 줄이는 대신, 주재정적자를 줄일 수 있는 대안을 반대자들이 제시하지 못했다는 지적입니다. 하여간 오늘부터 2011년 6월 31일까지 격주금요일은 공립학교 아이들이 학교에 못가고 집에서 놀게 됐습니다. 저의 집 딸아이를 보니 그래도 오늘 하루종일 숙제도 하고 책도 읽고 놀기도 했더군요. |
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오늘의 집회모습을 YouTube 동영상으로도 만들어 올렸습니다. 청산 기자. |
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