Talking about Ethnicity and Inequality in Public Education

The leadership of the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) is collaborating with the University of Hawaii Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education to facilitate an open and frank teacher discussion about ethnicity, inequality and social justice in Hawaii’s K-12 public educational institutions. We know that academic and community leaders are doing important intellectual and political work on race, class and privilege in Hawaii, but we need to do more to make this part of the work of educators in the public school system. We believe that by creating spaced for “critical conversations” in the larger education community, we can have a greater impact in how teachers understand and engage in public education issues in Hawaii.

This even will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2015, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at The University of Hawaii Campus Center. It is designed for current HIDOE teachers, UHM COE pre-service teachers, an UH COE faculty and staff. The proposed agenda is:

Talking about Ethnicity and Inequality in Public Education

I. Registration: Check In and Assignment of Break Out Groups

II. Welcome: Dr. Amy Perruso of HSTA, Dr. Patricia Halagao of the UH Manoa COE and Hawaii State BOW, & Dr. Amber Makaiau of the UH Uehiero Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education

III. Opening Remarks & Purpose: Corey Rosenlee & Dr. Amy Perruso of HSTA

IV. Outlining the Structure of the Program: Dr. Amber Makaiau of the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education

V. Panel Presentation: Each panel member will give a 20 minute presentation and answer clarifying questions from the audience.

• Dr. Jon Okamura
• Dr. Earl Hishinuma
• Dr. Ku Kahakalau

VI. Small Group Break Out: Groups made up of 12 HIDOE Teachers/ COE Teachers and One Uehiro Academy HIDOE Teacher Facilitator

• Introducitons
• Questions
• Vote
• Inquiry
• Reflect

VII. Possible Solutions and Continuing the Dialogue:

In this format, the panelists will lay out the context and main issues for the first hour. The we will move into smaller group for inquiry discussions, organized around the philosophy for children (p4cHI) deliberative inquiry model, for about an hour. Finally, we will conclude the morning’s work by coming back to the whole group discussion organized around the question of “what is to be done?”

Please register for the even via the link provided on the attached flyer. We have room for 100 participants. If you have any questions about the event you can email Dr. Amy Perruso (amyathomas@hotmail.com) or Dr. Amber Strong Makaiau (makaiau@hawaii.edu).