THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

122

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROVIDE CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY WITH COURSES IN HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE INSTRUCTION, AND TO INCORPORATE THESE COURSES INTO THE DEPARTMENT'S PREFERENCES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CONDITIONS FOR TEACHER LICENSURE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Hawaii recognizes English and Hawaiian as the official languages of the State of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, language contains the intrinsic values of a culture and culture is perpetuated by the use of language; and

 

     WHEREAS, the sustainability of the Hawaiian culture is dependent on the knowledge, use, and prevalence of the Hawaiian language; and

 

     WHEREAS, understanding and familiarity with the Hawaiian language can be an asset to educators in providing educational programs that are culturally relevant to both native Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian youth; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii Hawaiian language public education system, as well as its Hawaiian language college, perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through the teaching and use of the Hawaiian language; and

 

     WHEREAS, more can be done to promote and encourage the use and teaching of the Hawaiian language to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture; and


     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the study, learning, and use of the Hawaiian language by educators and administrators can offer insight into and understanding of the cultural heritage and foundation, learning preferences, and traditions of many of the youth attending public schools in Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education (DOE) is requested to include as a desirable qualification in job descriptions used in recruiting and hiring all public school principals, vice principals, and teachers, the satisfactory completion of at least one course in Hawaiian language and culture instruction; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOE is requested to develop a plan in collaboration with the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies, and Hookulaiwi Program of the UH at Manoa College of Education, to encourage current public school principals, vice principals, and teachers to satisfactorily complete at least one course in Hawaiian language and culture instruction, including creative strategies and incentives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UH at Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies is requested to initiate a planning dialogue which includes a re-evaluation by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to consider incorporating the completion of Hawaiian language and culture courses as a requirement of state teacher licensure, and incorporating the requirement into satisfactory performance indicators; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOE is requested to submit a progress report on implementing this Concurrent Resolution and any necessary proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and


     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Dean of the UH at Manoa College of Education, Director of the UH at Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies, Director of the Hookulaiwi Program of the UH at Manoa College of Education, and Chairperson of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Language; Hawaii State Teacher Standards