Hanahauoli School Parent Enrichment Program

Hanahauoli School is a small progressive elementary school located on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. Much like the worldwide Philosophy for Children movement, the school is strongly rooted in the work of John Dewey, and in this year’s 2015-16 Hanahauoli Parent Enrichment Program Dr. Makaiau will have the opportunity to share with the Hanahauoli School community her scholarship about the history of Hanahauoli’s founding and the philosophy for children Hawai‘i approach to teaching and learning.

In October of 2015 the school’s Hanahauoli School Parent Enrichment Program will provide the school’s parents with a special opportunity to “talk story” with an expert panel about Hanahau‘oli’s founding, the philosophy of progressive education, and the unique benefits of learning at Hanahau‘oli. The program will include presentations, questions from the audience, and a facilitated dialogue with Hanahau‘oli School alumni. Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau will draw from the memoirs of her great great aunt Sophie Judd Cooke to give an introduction to the history of Hanahauoli’s unique beginnings. Her talk will be guided by the following question: What is the story behind Hanahauoli School’s founding? Dr. Hunter McEwan will accompany her on the expert panel. He will draw from years of scholarship and research in the Department of Educational Foundation at the University of Hawaii to explain the philosophy of progressive education, the theories of progressive educator John Dewey, and Dewey’s link to Hawaii. His talk will be guided by the following questions: What is progressive education and why is it important? Why was the philosophy of progressive education important to those who founded Hanahau‘oli and what about this philosophy of learning is most relevant today? Their presentations will be followed by a question, answer, and dialogue session with Hanahauoli School alumni. This event is closed to the public.

In November of 2015 the Hanahauoli School Parent Enrichment Program will offer a book discussion on Loving Learning: How Progressive Education Can Save America’s School by Tom Little and Katherine Ellison – In this book discussion session, participants will share and explore questions that arose while reading this year’s parent enrichment book. Dr. Makaiau will facilitate the inquiry using the p4cHI Plain Vanilla inquiry strategy. This event is also closed to the public.