HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

580

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a thorough education must incorporate opportunities for children to think critically and question received assumptions.  By nurturing children's innate sense of wonder and curiosity, and initiating open-ended discussion and inquiry, educators can foster students to engage in the type of reflective and critical thinking that will allow them to flourish as responsible citizens in a complex and changing world.

     In addition, the legislature finds that bullying, cyberbullying, peer aggression, violent behavior, and harassment pose a serious concern for our children and that the teaching of critical thinking, conflict resolution, compassion, empathy, social-emotional learning, and collaboration is addressed by the Philosophy for Children program, or P4C, at the University of Hawaii's Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, which has been shown to lead to the prevention of peer aggression in and out of school in those schools in which the program has been incorporated.

     The legislature further finds that the P4C program offers a workable model to introduce philosophical inquiry into Hawaii's public schools by providing teachers with the tools necessary to help their students develop complex problem solving, critical thinking skills, and sound judgment and reasoning.  This program received legislative funding in the 1980s, which enabled teachers of the department of education to train in the program at the University of Hawaii and then share their skills with other teachers in the school and complex.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to support the integration of philosophical education in public schools by making appropriations to fund the P4C program and to allow a small number of teachers of the department of education the time to train in the program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the P4C program of the University of Hawaii Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to allow teachers of the department of education to train with the P4C program of the University of Hawaii Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 



 

Report Title:

Philosophy Education; Public Schools; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the P4C Program of the University of Hawaii Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education and for teachers of the Department of Education to train with the P4C Program.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.